Adler, Mortimer J.

Adler, Mortimer J. (Jerome) (1902–  ) philosopher, writer; born in New York City. He taught at the University of Chicago (1930–52), where he helped design the Great Books program (1946), and directed the Institute for Philosophical Research (1952). Adler popularized the great ideas of Western civilization in such works as Great Books of the Western World, 54 vols. (1954, revised 1990), How to Read a Book (1940, revised 1972) and Six Great Ideas (1981).