David Sidorsky Professor Emeritus | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1927-07-07)July 7, 1927 |
| Died | December 28, 2021(2021-12-28) (aged 94) |
| Occupation(s) | Philosopher, Professor |
| Years active | 1959-2008 |
| Known for | Studies onJohn Dewey,Sidney Hook |
| Academic background | |
| Education | New York University |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Thesis | The Nature of Disagreement in Social Philosophy: Four Criticisms of Liberalism (1959) |
| Academic work | |
| Doctoral students | Elliot N. Dorff |
David Sidorsky (July 7, 1927 – December 28, 2021) was an American professor emeritus of philosophy, who joined the faculty ofColumbia University in 1959.[1][2][3]
David Sidorsky was born on July 7, 1927, inCalgary,Alberta, after hisJewish parents emigrated fromLithuania.[4] He received a BA in 1948 and MA in 1954 fromNew York University. He received his doctorate in philosophy fromColumbia University in 1962.[1][2][3] He wrote his doctoral dissertation on "The Nature of Disagreement in Social Philosophy: Four Criticisms of Liberalism."[5]
Sidorsky served in the 72nd Infantry Battalion in theIsraeli Army's7th Brigade during the1948 Arab–Israeli War. On his way to join the army, he was held captive for six weeks inBaalbek, Lebanon. After the fighting stopped, he studied atHebrew University, where professors includedHugo Bergman.[4]
After visiting home in Calgary after the war and studies in Israel, he returned to New York City and taught at New York University.[4] In 1959, Sidorsky began teaching philosophy at Columbia University, with primary interests in moral and political philosophy, as well as philosophy of literature and the 20th century philosophy and American philosophy.[1] He also taught philosophy at New York University.[2] Sidorsky's doctoral students includeElliot N. Dorff (1971).
In 1981, Sidorsky began an association lasting more than three decades with theJewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) by joining its board of directors.[6] By 1987, he had moved to JINSA's advisory board,[7] where he remained a member until at least as late as 2011.[8] (JINSA, is a pro-Israel non-profit think-tank, founded in 1976 and based in Washington, DC.)
Sidorsky was a lifelong disciple ofJohn Dewey. Teachers and colleagues include:Frank Tannenbaum,James Goodman,Horace L. Friess,John Herman Randall Jr.,J. L. Austin, andGilbert Ryle.[2]
Sidorsky studied Arabic.[4]
Sidorsky appeared in the documentaryTom's Restaurant - A Documentary About Everything (2014).[9]Eater.com described Sidorsky as "doe eyed cupid of a classics[sic] professor."[10]
David Sidorsky died age 94 on December 28, 2021.[11][12]
RabbiElliot N. Dorff dedicated his bookTo Do the Right and the Good (2004) to Sidorsky.[2] Costin Alamariu dedicated his bookSelective Breeding and the Birth of Philosophy (2023) to Sidorsky.
Sidorsky's works include:[1]
Essays:
Books Edited or Introduced:
