Barrows Dunham
Encyclopedia
Barrows Dunham, was an American
author and professor of philosophy. Best known for popular works of philosophy such as Man against Myth (1947) and Heroes and Heretics (1963), Dunham also gained notoriety as a martyr for academic freedom when he was fired from Temple University
in 1953 after refusing to “name names” before the House Un-American Activities Committee
.
into a Philadelphia family with progressive leanings. His maternal grandfather had commanded a regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War
, and his father James Henry Dunham was a Presbyterian minister who resigned his ministry in 1912, when Barrows was seven years old, because his study of philosophy and science, begun in the 1880s and 90s at the then College of New Jersey
and at the University of Berlin, led him ultimately to disbelieve in supernatural religion. He took a Ph.D.
in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1913 and went on to become a professor and dean at Temple University
, where his son would eventually come to teach as well.
Barrows was educated in local public schools, the William Penn Charter School
and, for a final pre-university year, at Lawrenceville School
, through all of which he absorbed a full classical education, including Greek. At Princeton
he was introduced to the formal study of philosophy, and though he began teaching English at Franklin and Marshall College upon receiving his A.B.
from Princeton in 1926, Dunham returned to Princeton in 1928 to pursue a master's degree
and, ultimately, a Ph.D.
in philosophy. His dissertation was titled Kant's Theory of the Universal Validity of the Esthetic Judgment, later published as A Study in Kant's Aesthetics.
Called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1953, Dunham refused to answer any of the questions posed to him, providing only his name, date of birth and birthplace, an action that led the committee to consider charges of contempt against him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author and professor of philosophy. Best known for popular works of philosophy such as Man against Myth (1947) and Heroes and Heretics (1963), Dunham also gained notoriety as a martyr for academic freedom when he was fired from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1953 after refusing to “name names” before the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
.
Life
Dunham was born on October 10, 1905, in Mount Holly Township, New JerseyMount Holly Township, New Jersey
Mount Holly Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States as well as an eastern suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,728. It is the county seat of Burlington County....
into a Philadelphia family with progressive leanings. His maternal grandfather had commanded a regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and his father James Henry Dunham was a Presbyterian minister who resigned his ministry in 1912, when Barrows was seven years old, because his study of philosophy and science, begun in the 1880s and 90s at the then College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and at the University of Berlin, led him ultimately to disbelieve in supernatural religion. He took a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1913 and went on to become a professor and dean at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, where his son would eventually come to teach as well.
Barrows was educated in local public schools, the William Penn Charter School
William Penn Charter School
William Penn Charter School is an independent school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1689 by William Penn...
and, for a final pre-university year, at Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
, through all of which he absorbed a full classical education, including Greek. At Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
he was introduced to the formal study of philosophy, and though he began teaching English at Franklin and Marshall College upon receiving his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Princeton in 1926, Dunham returned to Princeton in 1928 to pursue a master's degree
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and, ultimately, a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in philosophy. His dissertation was titled Kant's Theory of the Universal Validity of the Esthetic Judgment, later published as A Study in Kant's Aesthetics.
Called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1953, Dunham refused to answer any of the questions posed to him, providing only his name, date of birth and birthplace, an action that led the committee to consider charges of contempt against him.