Date of Birth: December 28, 1902
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: June 28, 2001
Biography
Mortimer Jerome Adler was an American philosopher, educator, and popular author. Born in New York City, he was a prominent proponent of the Great Books program and was instrumental in founding the Great Books of the Western World series by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Adler was also a key figure in the development of the Paideia Proposal, an educational reform initiative. He attended Columbia University where he initially studied to become a journalist but switched to philosophy after being inspired by the works of Aristotle. Despite not completing his bachelor’s degree due to his refusal to take a physical education course, Columbia eventually awarded him a doctorate. Throughout his career, Adler emphasized the importance of classical education and sought to make philosophy accessible to the general public. He authored numerous books, including “How to Read a Book,” “Aristotle for Everybody,” and “Ten Philosophical Mistakes.”
5 Interesting Facts about Mortimer Adler
1. Mortimer Adler refused to take a mandatory swimming course at Columbia University, which initially prevented him from receiving his bachelor’s degree.
2. He was a self-taught philosopher who later earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University despite dropping out as an undergraduate.
3. Adler was instrumental in the establishment of the Aspen Institute and the Institute for Philosophical Research.
4. He was a major advocate for the “Great Books” program, which aimed to compile and promote classical literature and philosophy.
5. Adler co-founded the Center for the Study of The Great Ideas with philosopher Max Weismann.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mortimer Adler
1. “The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.”
2. “In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”
3. “Love without conversation is impossible.”
4. “The ultimate end of education is happiness or a good human life.”
5. “The truly great books are the books that we read again and again.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Mortimer Adler’s net worth is estimated to have been in the range of $2 million.
Children
Mortimer Adler had four children: Mark Adler, Michael Adler, Douglas Adler, and Philip Adler.
Relevant Links
1. [Wikipedia – Mortimer J. Adler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_J._Adler
2. [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Mortimer Adler](https://iep.utm.edu/adler/
3. [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Mortimer Adler](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/adler/
4. [Goodreads – Mortimer J. Adler](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10052.Mortimer_J_Adler
5. [The Center for the Study of The Great Ideas](http://www.thegreatideas.org/pages/adler.html