Hans G. Furth
Encyclopedia
Hans G. Furth was a Professor emeritus in the Faculty of Psychology of the Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
, at the time of his death aged 78.
and baptized into the Catholic Church at the age of 15. Shortly after the Anchluss Furth fled the Nazis, first to Croatia
, then to Switzerland
, finally arriving in England
. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music
in London
in 1940 hoping to become a concert pianist and, after being interned as an enemy alien, performed at internment
camps for Jewish refugees
in various locations throughout Britain
(pictured), as well as Hutchinson Camp on the Isle of Man
. He spent the next decade as a monk in the Carthusian order and then emigrated to North America
.
in 1954 and a doctorate degree in psychology from Portland State University
in 1960. In the same year, he became the Catholic University Psychology Department professor
. Furth wrote ten published books on child development since 1966. One of them, Piaget and Knowledge: Theoretical Foundations (published by Prentice-Hall in 1969) became a bestseller
. After retiring from full-time teaching in 1990, Furth focused on writing about his past and completed a manuscript entitled "Society Faces Extinction: The Psychology of Auschwitz and Hiroshima." He wrote an essay called "One million Polish rescuers of hunted Jews?" for the Journal of Genocide Research
.
Hans G. Furth specialized in developmental psychology. His earliest book called Thinking Without Language: Psychological Implications of Deafness, was an examination of the silent language of the deaf and its teaching methods. Furth popularized the philosophy of Swiss child development
psychologist
Jean Piaget
, with whom he worked at the University of Geneva
in the mid-1960s. His books utilized Piaget's largely abstract concepts, including the notion that children left unattended continually rethink their understanding of the world and, as such, do not wait for educators to fill them with structured knowledge. A longtime colleague of Dr. Furth's, professor James Youniss, said Dr. Furth's "intensity" inspired leading developmental psychologists to embark on similar careers.
in August, 1963.
Furth had seven children: Sonia, Peter, Julie, Daniel, David, Paul, and Cathy. They now have a score of grandchildren.
In the last decade of his life, Hans G. Furth often performed at area nursing homes, playing works of Bach
, Beethoven, and Mozart. He was an avid hiker
and cyclist
, a member of the Wanderbirds Hiking Club. He had the heart attack that killed him while hiking in Shenandoah National Park
.
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, at the time of his death aged 78.
Early Life in Europe
Furth was born to Jewish parents in AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and baptized into the Catholic Church at the age of 15. Shortly after the Anchluss Furth fled the Nazis, first to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, then to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, finally arriving in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1940 hoping to become a concert pianist and, after being interned as an enemy alien, performed at internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
camps for Jewish refugees
Jewish refugees
In the course of history, Jewish populations have been expelled or ostracised by various local authorities and have sought asylum from antisemitism numerous times...
in various locations throughout Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(pictured), as well as Hutchinson Camp on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. He spent the next decade as a monk in the Carthusian order and then emigrated to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Career in North America
Furth received a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in 1954 and a doctorate degree in psychology from Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
in 1960. In the same year, he became the Catholic University Psychology Department professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. Furth wrote ten published books on child development since 1966. One of them, Piaget and Knowledge: Theoretical Foundations (published by Prentice-Hall in 1969) became a bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
. After retiring from full-time teaching in 1990, Furth focused on writing about his past and completed a manuscript entitled "Society Faces Extinction: The Psychology of Auschwitz and Hiroshima." He wrote an essay called "One million Polish rescuers of hunted Jews?" for the Journal of Genocide Research
Journal of Genocide Research
The Journal of Genocide Research ' is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers the field of genocide studies. Subject areas include: Peace and conflict studies, Human rights, international relations, security policies, conflict resolution, holocaust studies, history and international law.The...
.
Hans G. Furth specialized in developmental psychology. His earliest book called Thinking Without Language: Psychological Implications of Deafness, was an examination of the silent language of the deaf and its teaching methods. Furth popularized the philosophy of Swiss child development
Child development
Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories....
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget was a French-speaking Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher known for his epistemological studies with children. His theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called "genetic epistemology"....
, with whom he worked at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in the mid-1960s. His books utilized Piaget's largely abstract concepts, including the notion that children left unattended continually rethink their understanding of the world and, as such, do not wait for educators to fill them with structured knowledge. A longtime colleague of Dr. Furth's, professor James Youniss, said Dr. Furth's "intensity" inspired leading developmental psychologists to embark on similar careers.
Later interests
Furth and his wife, Madeleine Steen Furth, were active in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, offering their home in Washington, D.C., to protesters who marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
in August, 1963.
Furth had seven children: Sonia, Peter, Julie, Daniel, David, Paul, and Cathy. They now have a score of grandchildren.
In the last decade of his life, Hans G. Furth often performed at area nursing homes, playing works of Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
, Beethoven, and Mozart. He was an avid hiker
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and cyclist
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, a member of the Wanderbirds Hiking Club. He had the heart attack that killed him while hiking in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. This national park is long and narrow, with the broad Shenandoah River and valley on the west side, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont on the east...
.
Selected works
- Furth, H.G. 1987. Knowledge As Desire: An Essay on Freud and Piaget. New York: Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Press. ISBN 0231064586 - Furth, H.G. 1969. Piaget and Knowledge: Theoretical Foundations. Chicago: University of ChicagoUniversity of ChicagoThe University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Press. 2nd ed., 1981. [cc] - Furth, H.G. 1969. Intelligenz und Erkennen. Die Grundlagen der genetischen Erkenntnistheorie Piagets. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp.
- Hans G. Furth and Harry Wachs, Thinking Goes to School. Piaget's Theory in Practice, 1975. ISBN 978-0-19-501927-8
- Hans G. Furth. 1996, 2007. Desire For Society (hardcover). ISBN 0306453428