Frankel, Charles

Frankel, Charles, 1917–79, American philosopher, b. New York City, grad. Columbia 1937, Ph.D., 1946. A teacher at Columbia since 1939, he became Old Dominion professor of philosophy and public affairs in 1970. His extensive writings are on social philosophy, the philosophy of history, and value theory, as well as on education and religion. His emphasis, like that of John Dewey, was on practical philosophy rather than metaphysical speculation. Between 1965 and 1967, Frankel was assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. His works include The Faith of Reason (1948); The Case for Modern Man (1956, rev. ed. 1959); The Democratic Prospect (1962); and Pleasures of Philosophy (1972).