William Barrett | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1913-12-30)30 December 1913 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | 8 September 1992(1992-09-08) (aged 78) Tarrytown, New York, U.S. |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Philosophy |
| Sub-discipline | Political philosophy |
| Institutions | New York University,Pace University |
| Main interests | Marxism,existentialism |
William Christopher Barrett (December 30, 1913 – September 8, 1992) was an American philosopher who was professor ofphilosophy atNew York University from 1950 to 1979, and later atPace University.
Precociously, Barrett began post-secondary studies at theCity College of New York when 15 years old. He received hisPhD atColumbia University. He was an editor ofPartisan Review and later the literary critic ofThe Atlantic Monthly magazine. Barrett wrote philosophical works for nonexperts, includingIrrational Man andThe Illusion of Technique, which remain in print.[1]
Like many intellectuals of his generation, Barrett flirted withMarxism before turning his energies to providing readable introductions to European philosophical schools, notablyexistentialism.
Barrett was a good friend of the poetDelmore Schwartz for many years. He knew many other literary figures of the day, includingEdmund Wilson,Philip Rahv, andAlbert Camus. He was deeply influenced by the philosophies ofFriedrich Nietzsche,Søren Kierkegaard, andMartin Heidegger and was the editor ofD. T. Suzuki's 1956 classicZen Buddhism. In fiction, his taste ran to the great Russians, particularlyFyodor Dostoyevsky.
Barrett died in 1992, aged 78, ofcancer of theesophagus.[1] He was survived by his daughter, Nell Barrett, and her children, Clinton and Georgia.
Barrett's Law is named for him: "not everyone who might read the productions of scholarly writers is an expert in the fields discussed" (p. 99).[2]
Quotations related toWilliam Barrett (philosopher) at Wikiquote