This forum is dedicated to the scholarly discussion of the works of Will and Ariel Durant and to matters related to philosophy, history and the social sciences. It is provided as a meeting place for Durant enthusiasts who wish to communicate with serious and productive contributions. We cannot guarantee that your posts will be responded to by the foundation staff. Real names are required on posts. This is a moderated forum and submissions may not appear immediately.

The man who had changed my life

by

From long time ago I was searching for my answers in the Philosophic essays of normal life such as natural humen question,dead,life,growth,remain,society and ....later by one of my friends advice everything became better for me,became much more comfort and ....it was Weil Dorant the man for importalities by his masterpieces,truimphant and unforgettable;just remind how someone could earn knowledge to introduce you ALL HISTORY.....

Posted on Oct 24, 2005, 8:59 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

what does durant mean when he says...

by pam smith

what does durant mean when he says a majority can't rule but a minority can?

Posted on Oct 17, 2005, 12:57 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

response to meaning of quote

by

A good question. Perhaps he refers to the lessons of history, in which all ruling bodies were part of the minority, even when democracy was attempted in Greece and Rome, even then the ruling body came from a citizen class which had restrictions on qualifying for, and they were outnumbered by those not allowed to hold office. Most other cases those eligible to rule came from a minority aristocracy or royal line. Or they came from a priest class, whatever the case, they usually represented the minority.
And furthermore, I think he refers to a smaller body of people being best suited to rule. Which also looks back on historical examples for evidence. When the number of rulers got so high, in Assemblies and other large body groups of government, they begin to lose cohesion, and lose their effectiveness, often when they convened, many members could not even show up, even today in the USA members of Senate and House are rarely full, rarely does the vote total match the number of total representatives allowed to vote.
It comes down to a small number who are dedicated to the task and have the means to travel and be present, who live in close proximity. If the body of government is relatively small, it can convene quicker and more consistently.

The minority also might be those whose interests are best served for the city in whole to be prosperous. For example, it is to the benifit of the Merchant class for the city to psopser, and for the nobility and crasfstmen, but for servant or slave it is less, and peasant it is also of less importance how prosperous the city is, but peasant and servant and slave represent the larger portion of most cities in history.

I Think there is more to his meaning in this quote. I am just offering some thoughts on it, in hopes it might spark some thoughts of your own, or others, and by discussion and trading of thoughts we might deduce the answer.

Farewell



Posted on Nov 1, 2005, 5:33 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Minority Rule

by Will Durant Foundation

The answer can be found in Durant's "The Lessons of History" (Simon & Schuster, 1968, page 70):

"It is unnatural (as even Rousseau saw) for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized for united and specific action, and a minority can. If the majority of abilities is contained in a minority of men, minority government is as inevitable as the concentration of wealth; the majority can do no more than periodically throw out one minority and set up another."

Regards,

James Bishop
Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Jan 8, 2006, 7:26 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

oops :)

by

Sorry can't help my self from this, what he meant is that leadership is always in the hands of the minority hence the term and the word used, (leader) as in minority. Don't have to be genius to figure this out :(

Posted on Mar 25, 2006, 1:41 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

More Articles Please

by

Hi,

Great website ! Thanks. Can you update the 'Articles'
section with more articles by Will Durant. There seems to
be no other way how we can read his articles than in this
website, while books can be bought secondhand or are
being re-published.

Cheers

Posted on Sep 27, 2005, 6:21 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

history of literature

by

In the Dual Autobiography Will Durant says he once wrote a history of literature which was never published as being too immature. Does anyone know where that is, and if so what must one do to read it?

Seperately or not, have there been any unpublished essays by the Durants on Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, or the Russian translator Constance Garnett found?
-mark

Posted on Oct 8, 2005, 12:13 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Kafka in the mind of Durant

by

Will Durant read Franz Kafka , undoubtedly,I'd be so glad if you tell me Durant's comment on the works of Franz Kafka , what's his impression towards him , how does he classify him and how he consider him .
thank you

Posted on Sep 24, 2005, 8:58 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

response to "Kafka in the mind of Durant"

by

One or the other of the Durants wrote a life of Kafka in the book called Interpretations Of Life. The introduction to this book says Will and Ariel took turns writing the chapters.

They thought Kafka was strange and hard to get through. It's funny and worth reading. Interpretations Of Life also has biographies of Sartre, Hemingway, even a life of John Steinbeck which abruptly ends with, "I like John Steinbeck." James Joyce, Faulkner... the only people he really misses are J.D. Salinger and George Orwell, and it makes sense why he would have missed Salinger.

You can get Interpretations Of Life used through Amazon.com.
-mark

Posted on Oct 8, 2005, 12:08 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

why hasn't this site been updated in months?

by Mark Stewart

When will the next book be published? Just how many months is "a few short months"?

Posted on Sep 9, 2005, 10:53 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Answer

by Will Durant Foundation

We certainly appreciate your enthusiasm; the most recent book published was the paperback edition of "On the Meaning of Life" just a couple of months ago. The next book will be the hardcover for "Adventures in Philosophy", and that will be out in time for Christmas.

Additionally, in the coming months we will be launching an online university at willdurant.com that will feature multimedia courses on history and philosophy written by and/or featuring (in some capacity) Will and Ariel Durant, as well as e-books.

Regards,

James Bishop
Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Sep 21, 2005, 7:34 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

ON THE MEANING OF LIFE - BOOK

by

Hi James Bishop,

Can you please give details of the book you mentioned and entitled "On the Meaning of Life"?

Many thanks.

Gim

Posted on Nov 29, 2005, 11:32 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Thesis question

by

Hello all! I was wondering if you could help me?
I'm doing a project on civilization and the Environment and I found this quote:
Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.
Will Durant
US historian (1885 - 1981)

However, I need to know what book this can be found in?

please email me... please

peace;
WIll Lutz

Posted on Sep 6, 2005, 6:27 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Has Will Durant written a book about the Waldenses?

by SV

Hi,
I am tracing a book of Will Durant about the Waldenses. I could not find anything referring to that kind of subject in his bibliography. Maybe he has just written about the subject in one of his books. Can you help me?

Posted on Aug 23, 2005, 5:05 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Subjectivity in History

by

It's a problem presented to anyone who tries to add any sense of flow and human significance to the myriad of fact and figures that comprise our history. How may we keep our lives, our opinions, our thoughts, ourselves, from seeping their way into our writing? It is impossible, at least, on some levels, due to the arbitrary nature of language; the selection of words and perhaps less obviously the selection of propositions -what is significant within history?

Will and Ariel Durant areunique in the sense that they accept and embrace the subjectivity that comes along with philosiphy and history. They allow themselves to surface with witty critique and clever commentary. They note the "why" of the selected material, and never once disillusion themselves or anyone else by pretending that they are covering the ONLY important parts of history. They understand that there is a certain universal quality within human subjectivity, something we all understand... and through this they bring their history onto a level that excites, inspires, and illuminates our human minds in the way they were meant to be enlightened -through human means. What is relevant to one may be frivilous to the next, and what may have well been relevant to one may seem frivilous due to the presentation of the matter, and the focus of that presentation.

Was this appropriate... does placing their ideas so brazenly on the front lines of their text imply that their opinions should be taken with the same reverence that the fact is? Can we ever form truly independent opinions when the information we are being presented with is selected by said opinions? Can one seperate the good qualities of subjectivity -the amount of humanity and vivid reality which it creates from the rather adverse qualities, those that clout the presentation of information?


In retrospect... I am probably not well-read enough in Will Durant to be making these rather reckless claims as to his writing style and am not well read enough in general to make any great claims of human subjectivity. Forgive me and humour me, I am in my youth (I'm fourteen years old) and eager to learn and have my mind stretched. Correct me, as I'm sure to be erronous and ill-informed in some if not all of my statements. Teach me, I have something much more rare and precious than wisdom -the deepest of thirsts to drink in the wisdom that surrounds me.

Posted on Aug 3, 2005, 4:01 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Subjectivity in History

by Will Durant Foundation

I think you did a pretty good job of summing up Durant's writing - if not his style, then his perspective on his work. Durant was unashamedly subjective (one needs only read his essay "Shameless Worship of Heroes" to see that).

As Durant wrote in "Book Review" on October 6, 1963, in a response to a negative review: "In reviewing our 'Age of Louis XIV' J.H. Plumb charges us with a tendency to'personify processes and events.' This is true. We believe that the in the last hundred years history has been too depersonalized, and that statistics have replaced men in the story of mankind."

Regards,

James Bishop
Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Aug 31, 2005, 7:32 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

What luck!

by

I am now on my fourth volume of "The Story of Civlization" and marvel at the knowledge, wisdom, and writing of the Durants. I have spent 35 years reading the history of the French Revolution and Napoleon and the standards of antiquity such as Plutarch, Tacitus, Livy, Suetonious, Polybius, Aristotle, and etc. When reading those sections of "The Story of Civilization" that deal with what I have read, I an amazed at how Will Durant has captured the essence of what was said and presented it with integrity and eloquence. Durant's critiques of Caesar and Napoleon, in particular, are insightful and the products of a not only a knowlegeable hisorian but of a man of the world. At 62 it is exciting for me to begin each day with an extended visit with "The Story of Civilization." I am going to do all I can to encourage others to share in my pleasure of reading the Durants. I just found this website this morning by accident and am gratified to know how many others hold the Durants in the highest esteem.

Posted on Jul 9, 2005, 7:50 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Where do I go from here?

by Bob Pasch

This is a cry for help . Educated as a mechanical engineer, I've discovered the Durants at age 85. I am finishing the last volume of "The Story of Civilization". Now I want to continue. What happens after Napoleon? Can anyone point me toward the books, if not a series, that will carry me on. I don't expect another Will Durant, (thank God there was one) but there must be somewhere I can go. Can anybody help?

Posted on Jul 3, 2005, 2:58 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

The nxt step

by

Good day sir! I found myself confronted by your dilemma some time ago. I read first The Story of Philosophy and The Lessons of History. They were well worth the effort, but not quite enough. Ultimately, I decided to read the series again. Passing through time with Mr. Durant a second time put me on the path I think he would recommend. I have begun reading as much of his source materiel as I can find. He is a master of interpretation and his insight is unparalleled, but I think our being satisfied with his purchase on the world would disappoint him. I bought a set of The Great Books at a local library sale and the adventure began. Now I continue to read The Story of Civilization and augment it with those sources that capture my interest.

Posted on Sep 15, 2005, 12:00 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

continuing with Will Durant

by

You can read The Tragedy of Russia by Will Durant, about his visit to Russia under Socialism. The Case For India by Durant is an argument to end British rule of India and has a long chapter on Gandhi. Interpretations of Life is about 20th century authors. By following the footnotes in these books you can go on from Napoleon. There is also a Dual Autobiography by Will and Ariel Durant which has some interesting anectdotes about Charlie Chaplin.

Durant was friends with Charles E. Beard who wrote many books on U.S. history.

Posted on Oct 8, 2005, 12:20 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

WHERE TO?

by

DEAR SIR, I READ YOUR MESSAGE AND, WAS AMAZE. I BEEN ASKING MYSELF THE SAME QUESTION. FOR I AM CONFUSE ON WHAT UNITED STATES IS DOING IN WORLD AFFAIRS.IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY HAS THE ANSWERS, AND I ONLY RECEIVED BABAL . SO WHAT IS THE TRUTH? WHERE CAN I FIND IT ? GOD BLESS


Posted on Feb 16, 2006, 4:09 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

The Human Adventure

by

Well, simply put, I will eat my hat if The Human Adventure was anything other than a slipcover encasing James H. Breasted's Conquest of Civilization and James H. Robinson's Ordeal of Civilization. A company did publish the books together at the proper time for Durant's list, the books fit Will's descriptions to perfection, and (perhaps most convincing) the chapters of the volumes line up exactly with Durant's assignments on his list. In fact, in the introduction to a later edition of Conquest of Civilization, Edith Williams Ware writes, "...Dr. Breasted was induced in 1926 to prepare a somewhat more mature book, based on the foregoing text but without the pedagogical details. This book he called the Conquest of Civilization, a title envisaging Man as having set out on a great adventure - the "Human Adventure" -..."

All this evidence is strong enough for me to be rather sure that the mysterious The Human Adventure was merely a packaging of Conquest of Civilization and Ordeal of Civilization into one set, perhaps with a slipcover bearing the The Human Adventure title.


I hope this research and reasoning helps others...


Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

(Sorry that this post appears twice. I was afraid it might go unseen in its original location.)

Posted on Jun 23, 2005, 3:04 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Has Durrant said this?

by

The following passage is used extensively (by some Internet sites) as a quote from Will Durant. Is this a genuine quote? If so, can some one give the reference?

"India was the motherland of our race and Sanskrit the mother of
Europe's languages. India was the mother of our philosophy, of much
of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity... of self-
government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of
us all."

Anand Nair

Posted on Jun 9, 2005, 8:06 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

A christians mother!

by Bar~Elohim

Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.

Posted on Dec 29, 2005, 12:11 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Everything in Moderation

by Nelly

I am seeking the origin of the expression 'everything in moderation' or 'be moderate in all things'. I have searched Aristotle's Golden Mean; although the concept was present, the words were not. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.


Posted on May 28, 2005, 10:52 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

everything in moderation

by

I, too, have been looking for the origin of this statement and/or who popularized it or has it attributed to them. If you find this information, I would appreciate hearing it.
Thanks,
Marty

Posted on Oct 21, 2005, 6:14 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

moderation source.

by Bar~Elohim

Pro 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

This precept of moderation is biblical.

Posted on Dec 29, 2005, 12:14 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Will Durant debate with John B. Watson -- need citation

by

I have misplaced the citation for a wonderful story and I wonder whether anyone on this forum might have it. Here it is:

Although John Broadus Watson, the noted behaviorist, denied the existence of consciousness, he did allow for the existence of thought. Few now remember that Dr. Watson held that thought transpired through the muscular motions of the larynx, and had nothing to do with the brain (1913/1948). It was not a view that received a great deal of support, but Watson defended it vigorously and arranged public debates with other well-known scholars in order to promote this view. In a debate with Will Durant, the noted historian was forced to simply throw up his hands, exclaiming, “This appears to be a matter about which Dr. Watson has made up his larynx. Further debate would be fruitless.” Dr. Durant walked off the stage.

Does anyone know the source of this story?
Thanks,
Josephine Harper

Posted on May 26, 2005, 8:43 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Watson-Durant debate on consciousness

by


I don't but want to know the answer. Please share it with me as I am currently doing some soul-searching on the meaning of life and also on consciousness.

Gim

Posted on Nov 29, 2005, 11:44 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Egyptians are to Greeks are to Romans are to...us?

by

I'm pretty sure I got this from one of my two readings of the entire "History of Civilization"...is there an "electronic" version of this set available anywhere? I'd love to be able to search for some of the amazing quotes that Will used in those volumes, without having to pore over hundreds of pages.
I told a colleague about the Egyptians being as "ancient" a civilization (starting thousands of years before) to the Greeks, as the Greeks were to the Romans, as the Romans were to us. He asked me to show him the quote and I'm hoping someone can help me here. Does anyone know which volume, and ideally section/chapter(/page?) this appears in?
And definitely let me know if these volumes (I found an eBook version of "The Story of Philosophy," which is where I discovered the genius of the Durants) are available as "electronic books."

Posted on May 10, 2005, 12:49 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Question on The Story of Philosophy

by

Does anyone know where Mr. Durant got this quote from:

"Consequently, the road to the superman must lie through aristocracy. Democracy - - this manner for counting noses -- must be eradicated before it is too late. The first step here is the destruction of Christianity so far as all higher men are concerned."

It is in his "The Story of Philosophy" but because I do not have that book handy, I can't look it up. If someone could tell me where he found this quote (I believe it came from Nietzche, but I need to know which of Nietzsche's books it came from) I would be grateful.

Marcus H

Posted on May 5, 2005, 8:40 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Is This A Quote From W. Durant?

by

"The ultimate struggle will not be between America and Russia,
nor will it be betweenthe East and the West
the ultimate struggle will be whether Man can live without God."

Posted on Mar 17, 2005, 12:35 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Voltaire

by

It has taken me over two years to finish Durant's first ten volumes of "Story of Civilization". The thread of Voltaire's life weaving its way thru pre French revolutionary Europe as described by Durant is the product of genius. I believe that the final part of Voltaire--the posthumous conversation between Benedict and Voltaire is a masterpiece of literature.It deserves to be read by all.
Lee Frazin MD

Posted on Mar 15, 2005, 11:53 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

100 necessary book list

by anna

Does anyone know where I can find the book list called Books every educated person should read. I heard that it was by Will Durant.


Posted on Mar 1, 2005, 6:24 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

100 Best Books for an Education

by

You can find the list in the work, The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time at your local bookstore. I have seen them posted online as well. Trent

Posted on May 12, 2005, 4:11 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Re: 100 necessary book list

by


Hello Anna,

Here's a link to the 100 best books for an education: http://www.pushby.com/friends/jesse/archives/durantlist.html

I started the list a couple of months ago. I'm keen to find someone who's doing the same who I can chat by email about the books with. Let me know if that's something you'd be interested in. Thanks

Philip (philipmford@yahoo.co.uk)

Posted on Mar 16, 2006, 8:00 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Where can I go from here?

by

I have nearly completed Will Durante's Story of civilization. After I finish the last volume, "The Age of Napoleon" is there any history I can pick up that will permit me to continue the story. I do not hope to filnd an author who can fill the shoes - or hold the pen - of Will Durant, but I would like so much to continue the fascinating jouirney through the centuriles that I have traveled with my Teacher.

Posted on Jan 30, 2005, 5:13 PM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Carry on!

by

I can recommend Paul Johnson, especially his The Birth of the Modern and Modern Times. True, Johnson is a skeptical conservative, but then again, wasn't Durant himself something of a skeptic? I only wish Will and Ariel had lived long enough to write on Marx, Lenin, and Mao.

Posted on Apr 10, 2005, 7:49 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

My appologies Larry

by

I didn't read your post before I posted... very sorry.

I do whole-heartedly agree with you. 'Birth Of The Modern' is the natural choice. A great book and a worthy successor to Wil and Ariel's 'Napoleon'.

I too wish I could hear Wil's take on the fall of the U.S.S.R's ideological totems as well as his opinions of current world affairs.



    
This message has been edited by durant on Apr 11, 2005 8:47 PM

Posted on Apr 11, 2005, 10:28 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Will Durant

by

Thank you for responding to my April 2005 request for follow-ups to Story of Civilization. I will look into the books you recommend by Paul Johnson. You may have seen my second message this month. For some reason I did not think my Mayt request had gone through.

Posted on Jul 9, 2005, 11:18 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Where I went after 'Napoleon'

by

I'd suggest Paul Johnsons 'The Birth Of the Modern', which deals with the early 19th century - an excellent book.



    
This message has been edited by durant on Apr 11, 2005 8:48 PM

Posted on Apr 11, 2005, 10:21 AM

Respond to this message

Return to Index

Create your own forum at Network54
 Copyright © 1999-2010 Network54. All rights reserved.   Terms of Use   Privacy Statement  

Will Durant Online