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The Ultimate Question for Man

40 years ago, I thought I read this of W.Durant, but searches for it has not born fruit. "The conflict will not be between Capitalism and Communism, nor even between the East and West. The ultimate question will be if Man can bear to live without God."
Can anyone help me locate this verbatim?

Posted on Sep 5, 2003, 2:59 PM

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THE ULTIMATE QUESTION FOR MAN

by JOHN LITTLE

Dear Margaret,

Thank you very much for your inquiry. I have located the quote you have referenced; it was published in a seldom seen little book of Dr. Durant's entitled "On The Meaning Of Life (Ray Long & Richard R. Smith, Inc.; New York, 1932) that is now long since out of print. The passage is included in its entirety below (I have also included several prior paragraphs to provide some context):

"As I write a song comes up from the street below. A black-garbed lass, accompanied by a tremulous brass band, is singing 'The Rock of Ages.' Silently I join in the refrain; and all the idealized memories of my pious youth surge up within me; without exception they are hard-looking, practical fellows; long since, I fear, religion has become a business with them. The uniformed women, whose shrill voices carry the burden of the song, are pale and thin, empty in body and soul; everything spiritual dies when it is sold, or made a motley to the view.

"But in the crowd itself the faces are not hard. These men seem for the most part destitute -- jobless and penniless; the exploitation and poverty that are a part of life have fallen heavily upon them; they are one moment in the enternal wastage of selection. Yet they are not bitter; they listen patiently to the harangue of the preacher calling them violently to the gentle Christ. Despite his invectives and denunciations some of them seem comforted; for a while they catch a glimpse of another world than their daily round of unemployment and fruitless search, of burning hunger and weary feet. In a dark doorway an old woman listens hopefully, sheds a tear, and mumbles a prayer. But for the most part the men smile incredulously; their poverty does not seem to them to declare the glory of God. When the song is renewed not one of them joins in it; one by one they walk quietly away. Even into these simple souls the skepticism of our time has entered. How shall I, fortunate and comfortable, ever fathom the despair of these men, shorn not only of the goods of life but of a consoling faith as well?

"For today science, which, because of its marvelous creations, they have learned to trust as once they trusted the priest, has told them that the sky which of old promised them happiness, is mere blue nothing, cold and empty space, and that those clouds among which the angels frolicked are only the staming perspiration of the earth. Science does not offer consolation, it offers death. Everything, from the unwinding universe of the astronomers to the college girl irradiating life with beauty and laughter, must pass away: this handsome youth, erect and vigorous, fresh from athletic victories, will be laid low tomorrow by some modest, ingratiating germ; this noble pianist, who has dignified his time with perfection, and has taught a million souls to forget themselves in beauty, is already in the clutch of death, and will, within a decade, be rotting in the tomb.

"The greatest question of our time is not communism vs. individualism, not Europe vs. America, not even the East vs. the West; it is whether men can bear to live without God."

The passage goes on of course, and I'm tempted to transcribe it in its entirety in appreciation of the beauty of its prose. However, if I did this I would be in danger of not being able to stop. I will mention, by way of consolation, that Promethean Press will be re-releasing this wonderful little book in the near future for fans of Dr. Durant's philosophy and literature to appreciate in the privacy of their own homes and thoughts.

Be sure to check in with us over the next several months for news about this release.

Thanks again for your query.

Yours sincerely,

John Little

The Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Sep 6, 2003, 5:08 PM

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The Ultimate Question

Perhaps this information will help you:

from "ThinkingOutLoud, Vol 4, Issue 2:

he greatest question of our time is not communism versus individualism, not Europe versus America, not even the east versus the West: it is whether man can bear to live without God.
Will Durant (1885-1981) [no citation to the work]

from a website called "why-christianity.com"

the quote and attribution are:

Will Durant, American historian, 1885-1981
From the Plight of Freedom:

“The greatest question of our time is not communism vs. capitalism, not Russia vs. America not even the East vs. the West. It is whether man can bear to live without God.”

[I am not familiar with The Plight of Freedom". DAD]

Posted on Oct 4, 2003, 8:50 PM

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NEW DURANT BOOK: "An Invitation to Philosophy: Essays and Talks on the Love of Wisdom"

by Will Durant Foundation

THE "LIVING PHILOSOPHY" SERIES – Volume One

AN INVITATION TO PHILOSOPHY:
Essays and Talks on the Love of Wisdom

It comes from the Greek words meaning “love of wisdom.” In English, it is called philosophy – the study of the most important and enduring questions of the human race. Questions like, “What is reality?” “How do I know?” “Is there a God?” “What happens when I die?” (among others) have intrigued mankind for millenniums and continue to pique the interest of eager seekers after truth. Perhaps more so than any other discipline, philosophy is best understood as a dialogue between ourselves and the great minds of the past – a dialogue that has endured for thousands of years.

Drawing upon Will Durant’s essays, as well as never-before-published talks and dialogues on philosophy and philosophers, An Invitation To Philosophy presents a magnificent overview of the major branches of philosophy, their problems and capabilities, as well as brief profiles of four of the discipline’s most inspirational representatives (Confucius, Socrates, Plato and Giordano Bruno). An Invitation to Philosophy is a compass and guide to navigating the moral ocean of the human soul, in addition to being the definitive presentation of the philosophy of Will Durant, who makes an eloquent case for the very need of philosophy in our daily life:

"Without philosophy, without that total vision which unifies purposes and establishes the hierarchy of desires, we fritter away our social heritage in cynical corruption on the one hand, and in revolutionary madness on the other; we abandon in a moment our pacific idealism and plunge into the cooperative suicide of war; we have a hundred thousand politicians, and but a single statesman. We move about the earth with unprecedented speed, but we do not know, and have not thought, where we are going, or whether we shall find any happiness there for our harassed souls. We are being destroyed by our knowledge, which has made us drunk with our power. And we shall not be saved without wisdom."
-- Will Durant (from Chapter One)

The chapters of An Invitation to Philosophy are as follows:

Introduction: The Philosophy of Will Durant
The Failure (and Potential) of Philosophy
An Approach to Philosophy
Confucius: The Secret of China
Socrates: The First Martyr of Philosophy
Plato and the Quest of the Beautiful
Giordano Bruno
What Really is the Meaning of Life?
What is Philosophy? A Dialogue on Life, Meaning, and Philosophy
A Philosophy for Our Times
Words to Live By: For Young Philosophers Only

Will Durant Foundation visitors are invited to reserve an advanced copy of this new Durant book, which will be shipped to you two weeks prior to the October 1st release date. To order your copy today, please submit your order below:

An Invitation to Philosophy: Essays and Talks on the Love of Wisdom
Promethean Press
6x9; 108 pages
$14.99

http://www.willdurant.com/invbook.htm

This message has been edited by durant on Aug 29, 2003 8:15 AM
This message has been edited by durant on Aug 29, 2003 8:09 AM

Posted on Aug 28, 2003, 7:53 PM

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Margaret Sanger

I once heard a sermon in which the minister said that Will Durant told a reporter that the most important event in all of history was the work of Margaret Sanger.

I am looking for the source of that statement or some way of verify it.

Posted on Jul 18, 2003, 10:01 AM

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MARGARET SANGER

by JOHN LITTLE

Dear Mr. Krost,

I'm sorry to say that I cannot find evidence for such a statement in any of the literature of Dr. Durant's that I have had opportunity to review. It is entirely possible that it might have appeared in a periodical that has escaped my attention or in an interview that has likewise eluded me. It is rather a bold statement, given the expanse of contributions from generative souls throughout history, but there is at least some evidence that both Dr. and Mrs. Durant held Margaret Sanger in high regard.

On page 27 of their "Dual Autobiography," Ariel writes:

"And Margaret Sanger, one of the most heroic and successful reformers in history, was sending her two boys to the Ferrer School."

The Ferrer School, as you might welll be aware already, was the venue where Will Durant was employed as the sole educator and part-time principal.

I'm sorry I could not have been of more help in sourcing your quote (or even being able to verify it). If any other visitor to this forum has documentation that would support the good minister's citation, I would very much welcome their sharing it with both of us.

Yours sincerely,

John Little

The Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Jul 28, 2003, 12:36 PM

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Thanks for the effort

by Robert Kost

Thanks so much for the effort to look up that "quote."

Robert Kost

Posted on Aug 15, 2003, 2:57 PM

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Responding somewhat late but in case your still there, this may be applicable

My wife Lisa had recently read the Sins of Parents by Charles Hugo Doyle and pointed me to a quote from Will Durant. According to the author, “It was made by Durant before a group of bankers--- the New York State League of Savings and Loan Associations--- at their fifty-third annual convention, held at Lake Placid, June 12-14, 1940. Mr. Durant spoke on the Crisis in American Civilization,”

Page 67 of Sins of Parents
Quoting Durant
I remember, in the first private school that I taught,having among my pupils two little boys whose name was Sanger. They were the children of Margaret Sanger, whom at that time I knew as a modest nurse in a hospital in New York. During that woman’s brief maturity she has changed the whole biological face of the western world… She taught the human beings of this country to make parentage voluntary, discriminating, and perhaps dangerously sparse.

As I contemplate the movement, I must congratulate it on its victory. It has won almost completely and perhaps today that movement stands in the midst of its victory, wondering if it was good. It is a terrible thing –isn’t it? – to give your life, to an enterprise of human liberation and then, having won all the goals that you set out for, to stand in doubt as to whether this was what you sought. For today the people of America who could bring up fine children, whose homes are equipped to give education and civilization and health, keep those homes more and more empty. And the homes that are not equipped either biologically or socially to give civilization and health and education are the homes that are making the future citizens of America.

Sometimes, when I look at America today, I wonder: Are all our victories defeats? And perhaps some of our defeats might be victories.

I, too, worked for this birth control movement--- preached it, shouted it almost from the housetops shamelessly; and today I see America breeding from the bottom and dying from the top because we won so thoroughly. I am not sure that it was good. We have solved one problem and we have created another that is immeasurably profounder.

I know what happened to Athens. Infantacide was raised to such a point that nobody raised children in Athens except the lowest of the low and the most barbaric of the immigrants. I know what happened to Rome. I know how Caesar almost scratched his head bald thinking how he could induce the Roman women to have children. He decreed that they should have no diamonds if they had no children—that they should have no jewels of one kind if they had none of the other. I know that Augustus passed law after law in the first decade of our Christian era almost two thousand years ago, trying to stop this current of family limitation. I know too that all that legislation failed. I know that Rome at last had to till her soil with barbarians and with slaves; and that finally the rapidly breeding immigrant Germans overran Italy. It was the end of the Western Roman Empire.

Civilization has to kill itself before it can be conquered… You will be conquered from within, not from without.

Posted on Oct 1, 2005, 10:21 PM

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The Gypsy Tavern

I am looking for any information [including personal memories, or memories of relatives and/or friends] about The Gypsy Tavern.

Other than my Mother's stories, and the several mentions in the Dual Autobiography, I have come up empty. Surely there must be some information floating around out there.

Thank You very much,
Kathi

Posted on Jul 14, 2003, 6:09 PM

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who can help me to find Will's books?

Dear all, I am a keen follower of Will Durant from China, I have read his Chinese version Story of Philosophy and was deeply impressed, now I want an English eletronic version of the same book but don't know where I can get it, so I am asking for your kind help.
Also I want an e-copy of his Story of Civilization, could anybody be so kind as to tell me where I can get it?
I will appreciate your help very much.

Posted on Jul 10, 2003, 9:57 PM

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Quotation

I found this quotation on the "Wisdom of Will Durant" section of this site:
"It is an error to suppose that books have no influence; it is a slow influence, like flowing water carving out a canyon, but it tells more and more with every year; and no one can pass an hour a day in the society of sages and heroes without being lifted up a notch or two by the company he has kept."

I am sure I have read it in one of his books before, but I can't remember which one. Can someone tell me where this comes from, exactly?

Posted on Jul 9, 2003, 8:37 PM

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News: British Philosopher Bernard Williams Dies

by James Bishop

British Philosopher Bernard Williams Dies
Mon Jun 16, 8:03 PM ET
AP

LONDON - Sir Bernard Williams, one of Britain's most influential philosophers who is credited with reviving the field of moral philosophy, has died at 73, Oxford University officials said Monday.

Williams died June 10 at Oxford, where he lived in All Souls College, a college spokeswoman said. No cause of death was given.

Williams held academic posts both in Britain and the United States, wrote studies of Descartes and early Greek ethical thought and analyzed the liberal doctrines of utilitarianism and Kantian ethics.

He wrote and presented a philosophy series, "What is Truth," on British television and in the 1970s chaired the government's Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship.

The committee concluded that pornography's influence on society "is not very important," adding that "to think anything else is to get the problem of pornography out of proportion with the many other problems that face our society today."

Williams also served on government committees analyzing the moral issues surrounding gambling, drug abuse and social justice.

Williams was keen to free philosophy from traditional restraints and reference points, writing in his 1972 "Morality" that "whereas most moral philosophy at most times has been empty and boring ... contemporary moral philosophy has found an original way of being boring, which is by not discussing issues at all."

He was interested in the question of moral conflict, arguing that philosophers should study the way moral lives are lived rather than look at people's decisions in relation to some abstract theory of right and wrong.

Williams was educated at Oxford's Balliol College and served in Canada with the Royal Air Force.

In 1951, he returned to Oxford University, holding posts at All Souls and New College. He taught at University College London before becoming Knightsbridge Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University. He also was provost of the university's King's College in 1979-1987.

In the late 1980s, Williams started teaching at the University of California at Berkeley.

Williams, who was knighted in 1999, is survived by his second wife, Patricia Skinner, their two sons and a daughter from his first marriage to politician Shirley Williams, now Lady Williams of Crosby.

Posted on Jun 24, 2003, 10:24 PM

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News: 'Jesus box' exposed as fake

by James Bishop

'Jesus box' exposed as fake
CNN

JERUSALEM --A stone box touted as the oldest archaeological evidence of Jesus is, in fact, a well-crafted fake, Israeli archaeological experts say.

The box, an object known as an ossuary, was said to have contained the bones of Jesus' brother James.

Carved on one side is an inscription in the ancient language of Aramaic bearing the legend: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."

Officials with Israel's Antiques Authority announced Wednesday that while the box may date from the correct era, the inscription is a forgery added at a much later date.

"The inscription appears new, written in modernity by someone attempting to reproduce ancient written characters," the officials said in the statement.

They said that a panel of archeological experts had agreed unanimously with the findings.

"The ossuary is real. But the inscription is fake," the director of Israel's Antiquities Authority, Shuka Dorfman, told Reuters.

"What this means is that somebody took a real box and forged the writing on it, probably to give it a religious significance," Dorfman added.

The committee said another indication that the box was not all it was claimed to be was that the stone from which it was hewn was more likely to have originated in Cyprus or northern Syria than ancient Israel.

However, Oded Golan, the Israeli owner of the "James ossuary," dismissed the findings.

"I am certain the ossuary is real, I am certain that the committee is wrong regarding its conclusions," he said.

Golan had earlier said he had problems with the committee and its methods of investigation saying they had "preconceived notions."

He said he had bought the ossuary in the mid-1970s from a dealer in the Old City of Jerusalem for about $200, but he was unable to remember the dealer's name.

Ossuaries were commonly used by Jewish families between 20 B.C. and A.D. 70 to store the bones of their loved ones

While most scholars agree that Jesus existed, no physical evidence from the first century has ever been conclusively tied with his life.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/06/18/jesus.box/index.html

Posted on Jun 18, 2003, 9:20 AM

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News: "Heroes" Audio Recordings Finally Released!

by Will Durant Foundation

HEROES OF CIVILIZATION - THE LAST RECORDINGS OF AMERICA’S MOST BELOVED HISTORIANS – WILL & ARIEL DURANT!

For over half a century Will and Ariel Durant researched and wrote about the lives and ideas of those who have helped to define humanity, from the dawn of civilization to the beginning of the modern world.

Four years prior to their passing, Will Durant set about – at the tender age of 92 – writing the scripts for these talks (which would grow to 21 in length). At the urging of their daughter, Ethel, in the Spring and Summer of 1977, Will and Ariel invited a professional audio crew into their home in Los Angeles with the result that 14 talks were recorded onto audio tape. Upon completion, Will’s passion for writing returned, and he set about writing 7 additional talks, which he then decided to edit into a book to be called “Heroes of History” (these manuscripts would be discovered 24 years later and then edited and released by Simon and Schuster in November, 2001). When the Durants passed away in 1981, their daughter was too emotionally attached to the project to complete it, and when she passed away several years later, the audio recordings were put into storage with the rest of the Durant’s personal affects – where they remained unnoticed and unknown until the winter of 2000 when they were discovered by the Durant’s literary executor John Little.

The Durant tapes would ultimately survive three moves and a major flood prior to their discovery, after which an extensive preservation and restoration campaign was undertaken that proved successful in salvaging the recordings (save for the ending paragraphs of three of the 14 talks, which were later re-read by John Little). Now, 26 years after their creation, this last project that the Durants worked on together is ready to be released to the public, making it possible for future generations to learn the wonders of history directly from Will and Ariel Durant themselves.

In these rare, professionally produced recordings Will and Ariel reveal the peaks in human history and the teachings of mankind’s greatest heroes; artists, scientists, leaders, sages and saints, allowing new generations to experience the profound meaning of human history as taught by master story tellers who viewed history as a form of philosophy. That is:

-History as a laboratory rich in a hundred thousand experiments in economics, religion, literature, science, and government.
-History as the record of the lasting contributions made to man’s knowledge, wisdom, arts, morals, manners, and skills.
-History as man’s rise from savagery to civilization.
-History the only light that can clarify the present and guide us into the future.

This is history as taught by Will and Ariel Durant -- and an opportunity to benefit from the far reaching wisdom and keen insights of two individuals who spent over one half a century perfecting their craft. The Durants bring history alive, humanize its vast panorama, and illuminate the present with the lessons learned from the past.

Never before has an opportunity existed for people to listen to the Durants’ enchanting brand of history first-hand – until now.

To Learn more About the Heroes of Civilization collection, follow the link below:

http://www.willdurant.com/herociv.htm

Posted on Jun 17, 2003, 10:38 PM

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News: U.K. Scientist May Have Found Nefertiti Mummy

by James Bishop

U.K. Scientist May Have Found Nefertiti Mummy

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A British Egyptologist announced on Monday her team may have identified the mummy of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, the wife and co-ruler with pharaoh Akhenaten and stepmother to legendary boy King Tutankhamun.

Joann Fletcher, a mummification specialist from the University of York in England who led the expedition, said her team may have unearthed Nefertiti from a secret chamber in tomb KV35 in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Nefertiti, which means "the beautiful woman has come," has long been considered one of the most powerful women of ancient Egypt. Her tomb was found near that of King Tut, the teen-age king who ruled Egypt in the 14th century BC.

"After 12 years of searching for Nefertiti it was probably the most amazing experience of my life," said Fletcher in a statement released by the Washington-based Discovery Channel, which funded the expedition.

"Although we can only suggest the identity as a strong possibility, the findings certainly have some wide-ranging implications for Egyptology," she added.

Nefertiti, whose likeness was sculpted in a limestone bust now in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, had an unusually high status during her husband's reign. Like her husband, Nefertiti's name was erased from historical records and her likeness defaced after her death.

Fletcher was drawn to the tomb during an expedition in June 2002 after she identified a Nubian-style wig worn by royal women during Akhenaten's reign. The wig was found near three unidentified mummies, two of them women and one a young boy.

One of the mummies, now believed to be Nefertiti, had a swan-like neck comparable to the queen, despite post-mortem blows to her face.

Fletcher also found other physical links, including the impression of a tight-fitting brow-band she once wore, a double-pierced ear lobe and shaved head. Nefertiti was one of only two of Egypt's royal women believed to have worn two earrings in each ear.

In an examination of the mummy in February 2003, scientists discovered a ripped-off right arm bent up with its fingers still clutching a royal scepter. Only pharaohs or queens were allowed to have their arms bent that way.

This evidence, including jewelry within the smashed-in chest cavity, fueled Fletcher's original belief that the mummy was Nefertiti.

Discovery Channel is running a two-hour program on Aug. 17 on the expedition.

Posted on Jun 10, 2003, 9:56 AM

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Nefertiti

Thank you so much for the info. What an interesting story. I hope its true. What is the relationship between This Nefertiti and the one during Moses? Are they the same person? Thank you Pat

Posted on Jun 10, 2003, 10:30 PM

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The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time

I picked up "The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time" a few months ago at the public library. Of the half-dozen or so essays in it, the one that interested me the most was "The Road to Freedom," in which Durant lists what he considers to be the greatest 100 books for an education.

I am a first year student of English Literature, and I have so far been dissatisfied with my university experience thus far. Most university students seem to be no more than transplated high school students - children in an adult world. I feel alienated from most of my peers, as all they seem interested in is television, bland popular music, and snowboarding. Universities seem to have been forced to lower their expectations, leaving me feeling as though I am missing out on the real value of a broad and thorough humanistic education. As Durant himself remarks in the essay, he is not sure what students learn in college these days "apart from the latest morals." That was in 1929, and matters have hardly improved. Durant seems to have provided me with that education.

I have resolved to read Durant's recommended books. Some titles will be changed of course; I have, for instance, found more up-to-date versions of his scientific recommendations, and I have chosen to replace Wells' "History of the World" with Durant's own "Story of Civilization." I expect I will drop some books from the list, and add others, but the essentials will remain the same.

Has anyone else decided to follow the educational path Durant reccommends? If so, I would appreciate hearing about your impressions of the reading, and of any alterations that you made.

I want to express my both my deep appreciation and admiration for Durant's career, and also my regret that I am unable to thank him personally.

Posted on Jun 6, 2003, 2:16 AM

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following will

I have a personal stake in Will Durant. He was my Great Uncle. MY father taught me many things in the light of reading and learning from his Uncle. My Grandfather was Wills brother. He was killed when my Dad was three years old. His Uncle Will gently guided him through life with letters of love and wisdom and then copies of his books. I have not read all the books ,but I do have all of them. I to wished I could have thanked him for such a profound legacy of wisdom. I do feel a great sense of pride in saying he was my relative and would love to talk to people who cherish his work Pat (Durant)Barker

Posted on Jun 7, 2003, 8:39 PM

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the list of 100 books

Hey. I have also decided to read the majority of the books that Will Durant has listed there. One of the reasons for that is that I feel the emptiness inside of me that needs to be filled with light. You will see as the ears go by that you will read some of the books and others because you will develop a hunger for them. The reason I like his list it because I have been trying to make my own list several times and failed. But now I have a solid foundation upon which I can expand and make my own list. I think that 5-10 years from now...you will thank yourself for being in the library that day and picking up his book. Regarding your peers in College only thinking about tv and snowboarding and such you need to do both.......because there is no reason to try to be older then you really are...you will get there soon anyways.

Posted on Jul 27, 2003, 6:46 AM

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I Relate...

I relate very much to what you wrote. As I was starting college I too felt that the education I was receiving lacked the broad humanistic scope I desired. This led me to constant library expeditions where I picked up books on history, philosophy and science. It was around then that my mother gave me a set of Durant’s Story of Civilization. My grandfather recommended it to us, having read and reread the set for many years. Needless to say I gained a much greater profit from Durant’s work and my alternative readings than from the narrow education I received in school.

When I graduated from college I could finally take my education into my own hands. I continued reading The Story of Civilization (finished last December), combining it now with the ten year reading plan of Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World collection.

I was delighted to find out that Durant had drawn up his own reading plan. I found it contains many of the books on the Britannica list. However, it also includes other books that I would like to integrate into my plan, like the oriental works and the modern scientific works. I have been looking for up to date replacements for these last books, especially The Outline of Science, but haven’t found anything adequate; I would love to know what you substituted them with.

I think you’ve taken a smart approach to your alternative education. Durant will take you through the history of the world and will introduce you to the greatest minds and works of humanity. A parallel reading of these books is of course a natural complement to The Story of Civilization. I would also recommend two books that will be of great help to you as you begin your journey: Mortimer Adler’s “How to Read a Book” and Clifton Fadiman’s “The New Lifetime Reading Plan”. Both of these works include reading list of the great books.

As for the lack of intelligent conversation in college I would recommend you keep an eye out for other “ugly ducklings”. Most of my friends and acquaintances in school were typical college kids, but I managed to find an alternate group of about ten friends that shared my intellectual interests and thirst. We got together every once in a while and discussed our readings and ideas. If you are able to find companions like this your college experience will be greatly enhanced. Good luck! (Hope you can tell me about those science books)

Posted on Sep 4, 2003, 8:55 PM

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The Road to Freedom

by L. Bangs

I have been an avid fan of the Durants since I was a teenager. I am now thirty, and I do not regret a second spent reading their works. I discovered Will's essay and list of books a few years ago, and I am very glad to see it is in print again.

After having plowed through many of their books, I also, a month ago, decided to take up (on?) Will's list of books. I was able to locate the Thomson Outline of Science in a local college library, and after examining it and several other books, I found Isaac Asimov's New Guide to Science to be a newer book that covers much the same territory as Thomson. Asimov's book was last published in the 80s, but it still rather fresh.

I am currently investigating whether Anthony Smith's The Body will serve as an adequate 'newer' replacement for Cleming's (sic?) The Human Body.

You will probably find The Human Adventure impossible to locate. It is much easier to find the two books that were combined to create it, but I'm afraid the titles of those two books escape my recall at the moment. A good substitute is J. M. Roberts' History of the World (published in America by Penguin). This book serves as a nice supplement to Durant's work, and since it was last updated in 1995, it will carry you through the period from Napoleon to most of the previous century.

I have other suggestions for modern versions of some of the nonfiction of Durant's list that could use modern replacements or supplements, but these are the only ones that spring to memory. You will find that many of the specialized histories he suggests still hold up fine today, so probably the major changes you need make beyond modernizing the science texts concern adding volumes covering the last hundred years or so. Even there, you will find the Durants' book Interpretations of Life to be a great aid.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

Posted on Sep 12, 2003, 10:26 AM

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I relate...

I relate very much to what you wrote. As I was starting college I too felt that the education I was receiving lacked the broad humanistic scope I desired. This led me to constant library expeditions where I picked up books on history, philosophy and science. It was around then that my mother gave me a set of Durant’s Story of Civilization. My grandfather recommended it to us, having read and reread the set for many years. Needless to say I gained a much greater profit from Durant’s work and my alternative readings than from the narrow education I received in school.
When I graduated from college I could finally take my education into my own hands. I continued reading The Story of Civilization (finished last December), combining it now with the ten year reading plan of Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World collection.
I was delighted to find out that Durant had drawn up his own reading plan. I found it contains many of the books on the Britannica list. However, it also includes other books that I would like to integrate into my plan, like the oriental works and the modern scientific works. I have been looking for up to date replacements for these last books, especially The Outline of Science, but haven’t found anything adequate; I would love to know what you substituted them with.
I think you’ve taken a smart approach to your alternative education. Durant will take you through the history of the world and will introduce you to the greatest minds and works of humanity. A parallel reading of these books is of course a natural complement to The Story of Civilization. I would also recommend two books that will be of great help to you as you begin your journey: Mortimer Adler’s “How to Read a Book” and Clifton Fadiman’s “The New Lifetime Reading Plan”. Both of these works include reading list of the great books.
As for the lack of intelligent conversation in college I would recommend you keep an eye out for other “ugly ducklings”. Most of my friends and acquaintances in school were typical college kids, but I managed to find an alternate group of about ten friends that shared my intellectual interests and thirst. We got together every once in a while and discussed our readings and ideas. If you are able to find companions like this your college experience will be greatly enhanced. Good luck! (Hope you can tell me about those science books)

Posted on Sep 23, 2003, 8:00 PM

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LIst of books

Responding to the message from an unfulfilled college student regarding his plan to read the list of books proposed by Durant.

I have just read Durant`s book , GM&I. I also recently finished Mortimer Adlers and Van Doren`s How to read a book , as well as Susan Wise Bauers The Well-educated Mind.
http://www.well-educatedmind.com/

I have to say Durant writes much more eloquently and melodiously than the other two books. But these other two books will help you structure a personal curriculum. As a college student , despite your complaints, I believe you have a great advantage in grasping the studious responsibility and Art required of devouring the Great Books.
Reading those books , and comparing the reading lists will definitely provide enough background in How To : handle these books , and after careful thought ONE Full list to choose from. I like Durant`s chronology curriculum and that thought is reiterated in Susan Bauers book.
I have begun my own plan for self-education and started with a lot of overviews to provide myself with the background. Such scholarly series as The for dummies ,and complete idiot guides were a necessity for me as I`ve started at such a disadvantage. (no college , and a weak lower-middle class high-school district)
By filling my head with the facts , people , history , I have been able to attack the classics with a veracity I would not have possessed prior.
Good Luck
Kevin At KasualKafe_com

Posted on Apr 5, 2004, 10:43 PM

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Source of Rights of the Last Will and Testament

In a debate with someone else, this came up as a catch...

Where does the enforcement of the last will and testament derive?

Let me clarify a bit. As a living person, one has rights, and those rights are protected and enforced by law (hopefully).

When you die, I contend those rights MUST still exist (where or not you can avail yourself to use them is moot, as most of them are irrelevant... you need to be alive to have freedom of movement, etc.)

But rights like the right to free speech remain after death. That is your testament.

The right to property remain after death. That is your will disposing of the assets to the worldly.

Because your rights continue after death, the law protects and enforces those rights.

My opponent states Rights end after death, but gives no rational as to why, then, the last will and testament has validity in law.

Thoughts?

Posted on Jun 4, 2003, 12:22 PM

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First Book

Is there anywhere I can find either a paper copy or text document version of Philosophy and the Social Problem? I'm kind of interested in collecting Durant books, but even if I can't find a hard copy I'd still like to read it.

Posted on Jun 2, 2003, 8:24 PM

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religion

I understand that Mr. Durant was educated in a seminary and was studying to become a priest. At some point Mr. Durant decided to become an athiest. Can you tell me if he found religion before he died or at lest shed a little light on the subject? Thanks

Posted on May 30, 2003, 1:35 PM

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Durant and Religion

by James Bishop

Durant's views on God can be found in the essay, "This I Believe", which is available in our articles section at the link below:

http://www.willdurant.com/believe.htm

Additionally, Will and Ariel talk at length about their religious views in the newly released film documentary, "A Visit With Will and Ariel Durant" available in our products section at the following link:

http://www.willdurant.com/products.htm

Regards,

James Bishop
Will Durant Foundation

Posted on Jun 2, 2003, 9:52 AM

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Durant conversion?

Mr. Bishop:

My recollection is that, just before his death, Will Durant returned to the Catholic faith of his youth. I remember reading an article about it at the time. Is this correct?

Thank you for the great site about a great man.

John Seiler

Posted on Sep 12, 2003, 2:16 PM

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Durant conversion

by James Bishop

Dear John,

There was a report shortly after Durant's death in "The Advocate", the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, in which Father Herbert Ryan claimed that Durant returned to the Church on his deathbed and received absolution. This story is considered apocryphal by the family, as they have no recollection of any such event taking place, and it wouldn't be the first time the Catholic Church has made such a claim against a popular former member (Kierkeggard comes to mind). It is also unlikely that the romantic Durant would abandon his Jewish wife in death.

But it is not beyond the realm of possiblity. Durant was often was accused by his critics of showing favoritism for the Catholic Church in his work. Durant, although he lost his faith in God, was never angry at the Church as an institution. He had a great love and affection for it, as it was a part of his culture. His own wife Ariel joked that he was "Catholic from the neck down." Durant was not the type of atheist who railed against religion; he respected the right and need for others to believe and did not judge them for it. Said Durant: "Catholicism survives because it appeals to imagination, hope, and the senses; because its mythology consoles and brightens the lives of the poor." In fact, he went against the prevailing view of most atheists by arguing that religion may be necessary to establish and maintain a moral code in civilization. Wrote Durant: "We frolic in our emancipation from theology, but have we developed a natural ethic - a moral code independent of religion - strong enough to keep our instincts of acquisition, pugnacity, and sex from debasing our civilization into a mire of greed, crime and promiscuity?"

The best indication of Durant's belief at the end of his life is to be found in his closing comments from his "Dual Autobiography", written in 1977, four years before his death. Although his view of the theology had softened over time, he still stopped short of declaring a belief in a god. "I am still an agnostic, with pantheistic overtones. The sight of plants and children growing inclines me to define divinity as creative power, and to reverence this in all its manifestations, even when they injure me. I cannot reconcile the existence of consciousness with a deterministic and mechanistic philosophy. I am skeptical not only of theology but also of philosophy, science, history, and myself. I recognize supersensory possibilities but not supernatural powers."

Note that he refers to himself as an "agnostic", not an "atheist" as he was inclined to do in his youth. The truth is, neither the theist or the atheist ultimately knows what lies before us in death, that "undiscovered country", as Shakespeare put it, "from whose borne no traveller returns."

Regards,

James Bishop
Will Durant Foundation

This message has been edited by durant on Nov 1, 2003 9:36 AM

Posted on Oct 29, 2003, 7:19 PM

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Durant Interview

On the Lessons of History with interviews CD, Will states that he recognizes that his parents faith was right and he was wrong.

It seems that this is somewhat of an acknowledgement of faith.

Posted on Oct 1, 2005, 10:25 PM

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Origins of Hell

I'm conducting a personal search into the origins of the concept of Hell. Especially as to where, when, why the concept originated in Christianity, particularly Catholic religious practice.

Can you please recommend some of Durant's articles, texts, readings in this particular area.

Best regards,
Rachael Boyer

Posted on Jun 7, 2004, 6:59 PM

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Its never too late, i hope...

Sorry for being so late as I curse myself for being introduced to Will Durant so late, anyways, I have read a book which discusses the concepts and origins of HELL and the name of the writer is ALLEN E. BERNSTEIN, he is a good writer too, and your search for more of his books as he wrote a book on christianity, so look for these books and enjoy.

Thanks and take care,
Asif Ali

Posted on Nov 8, 2005, 3:03 AM

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Morals and Economics

THE AGE OF FAITH's Ch XXIX, Monks and Friars observes what we relearned in the 1990s:

Morals fall as riches rise, and nature will out
according to men's means. In any large group
certain individuals will be found whose instincts
are stronger than their vows.

Is there historical evidence, perhaps synthesized into a reasonably available collection and a single publication, concerning whether the economic system impacts the ebb and flow of morals?

For example, do free enterprise systems ebb more, or less toward lax morals in goo times if they (a) involve many diverse small entrepreneurs, (b) consist mainly of large consolidated conglomerates or dominant market occupants?

Does the level of citizen participation, and the freedom of citizen movement within an economic system, tend to exacerbate or limit moral severity and laxity as the economic wheel grinds through its cycles?

What does all this mean for America as it finds its basic industries dominated by a few firms with such market power that nearly all ability to profit is now stripped out of food production and other basic raw goods production?

Thank you.

Posted on May 26, 2003, 2:07 PM

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RE: Morals and Economics

There is a problem putting a study like that together, because "morality" is not quantifiable. It's generally accepted as true that the worse the economy does the higher the crime rate, but I think that's about as much as you're likely to find.

Posted on Jun 14, 2003, 3:37 AM

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Location of disucssion of Historical Numbers

I would like to relocate the discussion of Mr. Durant's, in his "Story of Civilization" where he discusses the need to be skeptical about population numbers and especially the sizes of armies.

I have been searching but I connot locate it. I hope someone can help.

Thanks very much.

Posted on May 23, 2003, 11:00 PM

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Comment on Polpulation Estimates & Unreliability

Could you be referring to THE AGaE OF FAITH, Ch XXIV, part vi, page 642 (MJF Books Ed). There the Durants reported several population estimates and noted: "Of course, all these figures are loose and hazardous estimates."

Posted on May 26, 2003, 1:41 PM

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Translations

Dear Durant Forum,

I have read many of the writings of the Durants including, since my early boyhood, all eleven volumes of the Story of Civilization. I greatly admire Will and Ariel and all that they accomplished in their wonderful lifetimes.

I have always been curious as to how the Durants were able to translate old writings such as poems in Persian, Arabic, etc. and make them flow so well and even rhyme in English. Did they use some creative license in translating these to capture the essence, or did some of these scripts, dating back hundreds of years, lend themselves to creative interpretations?

This must have been tremendously painstaking and arduous work. The Durants were always known for their impecable scholarship. Could anyone shed light on this for me?

--Manny Molera
McKinney, Texas

Posted on May 20, 2003, 4:46 PM

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News: Einstein website launched

by James Bishop

Einstein online: Genius hits Web
CNN
Monday, May 19, 2003 Posted: 10:12 AM EDT (1412 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Genius goes online today with the establishment of a new Web site of Albert Einstein's scientific and other writings, the California Institute of Technology said.

A collaborative effort of the Einstein Papers Project at Caltech and the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Web site will allow users access to 3,000 digitized images of the Nobel prize winner's writings, Einstein Papers editor Diana Buchwald said.

Among them are papers on the special theory of relativity, his never-published travel diaries, various humanitarian statements, and his frequent pleas for peace.

Einstein Archives Online will be launched on Monday during a daylong symposium on Einstein's life and work at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The site also will provide a catalog of the 40,000 pieces of writing and correspondence that make up the body of Einstein's work, much of it written in the scientist's own hand, Buchwald said.

"The most exhilarating experience is to read the manuscripts," Buchwald said. "He expressed himself very clearly and concisely. He had a very elegant prose and ... very readable and beautiful handwriting, so one has a feeling of intimacy with the material."

The original papers, collected during Einstein's life and after his death in 1955 by his secretary Helen Dukas, are kept at the University of Jerusalem.

About 25 years ago, the Einstein Papers Project, centered since 2000 at Caltech in Pasadena, California, began publishing the material in chronological order and has completed eight of 25 planned volumes.

His papers show that Einstein was well-regarded in the scientific community and was a strong voice for peace long before confirmation of his special theory of relativity in 1919 made him a household name, Buchwald said.

Nevertheless, many still equate him with "the old frazzled scientist in a worn-out T-shirt," she said.

"It's difficult to get a completely fresh picture of Einstein because he has been such an icon for 75 years," Buchwald said.

RELATED
• The site, www.alberteinstein.info , is expected to go live at 3 p.m. ET.

Posted on May 19, 2003, 4:23 PM

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NEWS: New Durant Video Now Available!

by James Bishop

A VISIT WITH WILL AND ARIEL DURANT

In this one of a kind video, fans of the Durants will get to know Will and Ariel Durant up close and personal, for the first time. Produced with the full cooperation of the Durant estate, and drawing upon rare personal photographs, recordings and interviews, the Durants are with us once again to tell us of their lives, their love, their quest, their art, their careers and the most vital lessons they have learned from their half century of unparalleled research and scholarship into the history of the world.

Crafted by Durant scholar and award-winning filmmaker John Little, the Durants are featured in conversations conducted within (and around) their Hollywood Hills home, allowing the viewer an intimacy never-before-possible with these two legendary figures. The Durants, joint recipients of both the Pulitzer Prize and the Medal of Freedom, here discourse on topics of vital human interest – war, youth and old age, the power of ideas, and the great men and women of the past (among other topics) – and, most importantly, what history has to teach us that is vital and relevant to our current concerns and future as a species. In addition, the Durants tell us of their lives together, their deep and abiding love (which lasted 68 years – from their marriage in 1913 until their deaths, a mere two weeks apart, in 1981) and the stories behind how they came to write their universally acclaimed masterpieces on literature, art, sciences, politics, religion and philosophy of mankind. Their emphasis on the positive achievements of our species leave us refreshingly optimistic about ourselves, and proud to claim all of human history as the birthright and heritage of every man, woman and child willing to accept it.

If you enjoyed reading their books Heroes of History, The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time, The Story of Civilization and The Story of Philosophy, you will thrill at getting to know the great man and woman behind these great books, the real Will and Ariel Durant, for the first time.

A Visit With Will And Ariel Durant is at once both a fellowship with genius and a permanent invitation to visit with wise and caring friends; an invitation that the viewer will wish to take up time and again for many years to come.

To read more about the new film, follow the link below:

http://www.willdurant.com/visit.htm

Posted on May 6, 2003, 6:40 PM

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interpretations of life

Did anyone else find it utterly refreshing to see that someone with his own opinions had the sight to document some others?
If you havent read this piece or have forgotten it is the work he did with his wife about many authors and some philosophers critiqueing their works.
I have read and re-read this it is the only biographical type book that i could stomach and it has been nice seeing where many authors are coming from

Posted on Apr 22, 2003, 1:28 PM

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