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Life and Destiny
Reproduction of the Life and Destiny by Felix Adler
46 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1903
About the author
Felix Adler
172 books15 followersGerman-born American educator and reformer Felix Adler in 1876 founded the society for ethical culture, an organization, dedicated to the teaching of ideals.
The effort of people to live moral lives involved and applied this foremost philosopher. People frequently list his name alongside those of leaders Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Confucius, and Socrates. From the very basic premise of Immanuel Kant that moral worth of each and every person deserves both dignity and respect, Adler began.
Adler argued for the idea that each person act in a manner in accordance with and ideal of "self-actualization" and compatible with the social nature of humans. In this way, he like Immanuel Kant, a moral perfectionist, measures each action against a standard of perfection, which he summed as "Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself."
Adler frequently emphasized the need to develop a virtuous self, not in pursuit of some other goal but rather as a goal: "A virtuous act is one in which the ends of self and of the other are respected and promoted jointly."
Major Works:
Creed and Deed (1877)
The Moral Instruction of Children (1892)
The World Crisis and its Meaning (1915)
An Ethical Philosophy of Life (1919)
The Reconstruction of the Moral Ideal (1924)
Specializations:
Kantian Ethics
Ethics & Applied Ethics
Moral Education
Ethical Culture
The effort of people to live moral lives involved and applied this foremost philosopher. People frequently list his name alongside those of leaders Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Confucius, and Socrates. From the very basic premise of Immanuel Kant that moral worth of each and every person deserves both dignity and respect, Adler began.
Adler argued for the idea that each person act in a manner in accordance with and ideal of "self-actualization" and compatible with the social nature of humans. In this way, he like Immanuel Kant, a moral perfectionist, measures each action against a standard of perfection, which he summed as "Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself."
Adler frequently emphasized the need to develop a virtuous self, not in pursuit of some other goal but rather as a goal: "A virtuous act is one in which the ends of self and of the other are respected and promoted jointly."
Major Works:
Creed and Deed (1877)
The Moral Instruction of Children (1892)
The World Crisis and its Meaning (1915)
An Ethical Philosophy of Life (1919)
The Reconstruction of the Moral Ideal (1924)
Specializations:
Kantian Ethics
Ethics & Applied Ethics
Moral Education
Ethical Culture
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2020
A Book On How To Live A Good Life
Felix Adler expands on the importance of action; according to him living is action. As a result, life is a task that needs to be completed in the best possible way. Special importance is given to religion and ethics. A good book for non-fiction readers.
Felix Adler expands on the importance of action; according to him living is action. As a result, life is a task that needs to be completed in the best possible way. Special importance is given to religion and ethics. A good book for non-fiction readers.
June 10, 2013
Book consists of excerpts from Felix Adler's platforms at NY Soc of Ethical Culture. By today's standards, his views are unusual. He believed that life was grim and desperate, and that only through suffering did we gain moral authority. He did not believe in an afterlife. He was not a woman's libber. He believed in a transcendent spirit of morality and ethics that linked all mankind together and would eventually result in perfection of the human species.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews