An Ethical Philosophy of Life Presented in Its Main Outlines

Adler (1851-1933) was a German American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, influential lecturer on euthanasia, religious leader and social reformer who founded the Ethical Culture movement. His father was a rabbi and leading figure in European Reform Judaism and the family moved from Germany to the US when Adler was six so that his father could accept the appointment of head rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in New York. Adler graduated from Columbia University with honours in 1870 before studying at Heidelberg University as part of his training to become a rabbi, receiving a PhD in 1873. On his return to New York it became clear he would not follow in his father's footsteps and he took a position as non-resident Professor of Hebrew and Oriental literature at Cornell, and in 1902 he was given the chair of political and social ethics at Columbia where he taught until his death. His lectures on the need for a religion uniting all humankind in moral social action led to the founding of the Society of Ethical Culture which in time established an Ethical Culture Scool at which Adler served as rector. He developed an original social philosophy making use of ideas from Judaism as well as the philosophies of Kant, Hegel and Emerson and socialist ideals of his time, and wrote widely on the subject. This work was first published in 1918.