David Sidorsky Explained

David Sidorsky
Honorific Suffix:Professor Emeritus
Birth Date:7 July 1927
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupation:Philosopher, Professor
Period:1959-2008
Known For:Studies on John Dewey, Sidney Hook
Education:New York University
Alma Mater:Columbia University
Thesis Title:The Nature of Disagreement in Social Philosophy: Four Criticisms of Liberalism
Thesis Year:1959
Doctoral Students:Elliot N. Dorff

David Sidorsky (July 7, 1927 – December 28, 2021) was an American professor emeritus of philosophy, who joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1959.[1] [2] [3]

Background

David Sidorsky was born on July 7, 1927, in Calgary, Alberta, after his Jewish parents emigrated from Lithuania.[4] He received a BA in 1948 and MA in 1954 from New York University. He received his doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University in 1962.[1] [2] [3] He wrote his doctoral dissertation on "The Nature of Disagreement in Social Philosophy: Four Criticisms of Liberalism."[5]

Career

Military

Sidorsky served in the 72nd Infantry Battalion in the Israeli Army's 7th Brigade during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. On his way to join the army, he was held captive for six weeks in Baalbek, Lebanon. After the fighting stopped, he studied at Hebrew University, where professors included Hugo Bergman.[4]

Academics

After visiting home in Calgary after the war and studies in Israel, he returned to New York City and taught at New York University.[4] In 1959, Sidorsky began teaching philosophy at Columbia University, with primary interests in moral and political philosophy, as well as philosophy of literature and the 20th century philosophy and American philosophy.[1] He also taught philosophy at New York University.[2] Sidorsky's doctoral students include Elliot N. Dorff (1971).

Politics

In 1981, Sidorsky began an association lasting more than three decades with the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) by joining its board of directors.[6] By 1987, he had moved to JINSA's advisory board,[7] where he remained a member until at least as late as 2011.[8] (JINSA, is a pro-Israel non-profit think-tank, founded in 1976 and based in Washington, DC.)

Personal life and death

Sidorsky was a lifelong disciple of John Dewey. Teachers and colleagues include: Frank Tannenbaum, James Goodman, Horace L. Friess, John Herman Randall Jr., J. L. Austin, and Gilbert Ryle.[2]

Sidorsky studied Arabic.[4]

Sidorsky appeared in the documentary Tom's Restaurant - A Documentary About Everything (2014).[9] Eater.com described Sidorsky as "doe eyed cupid of a classics [sic] professor."[10]

David Sidorsky died age 94 on December 28, 2021.[11] [12]

Legacy

Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff dedicated his book To Do the Right and the Good (2004) to Sidorsky.[2] Costin Alamariu dedicated his book Selective Breeding and the Birth of Philosophy (2023) to Sidorsky.

Works

Sidorsky's works include:[1]

Essays:

Books Edited or Introduced:

See also

External sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Sidorsky. Columbia University. 25 August 2018.
  2. Web site: David Sidorsky. Columbia College Today. Winter 2012. 25 August 2018.
  3. Web site: David Sidorsky. The Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers. 2010. 25 August 2018.
  4. Web site: David. Sidorsky. David Sidorsky. Aryeh . Halivni. David Sidorsky - Full interview. Toldot Yisrael. 1 June 2021. 6 January 2022.
  5. Web site: The Nature of Disagreement in Social Philosophy: Four Criticisms of Liberalism. Philosophical Papers. 25 August 2018.
  6. Web site: JINSA Newsletter. Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. February 1981. 27 August 2018.
  7. Web site: JINSA Newsletter. Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. March 1987. 27 August 2018.
  8. Web site: JINSA 2011 Annual Report. Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. March 1987. 27 August 2018.
  9. Web site: David Sidorsky. IMDB. 25 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Joshua David . Stein. 'Tom's Restaurant: A Documentary About Everything' Is Mostly About Nothing. Eater.com. 22 October 2014. 25 August 2018.
  11. Web site: David Sidorsky. Dignity Memorial. 1 January 2022.
  12. Web site: David Sidorsky. Echovita. 1 January 2022.
  13. Encyclopedia: David. Sidorsky . David Sidorsky. Sidney Hook. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 8 May 2008. 25 August 2018.

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