Tomkins, Silvan S. (Silvan Solomon), 1911-1991

Silvan Tomkins was born on June 4, 1911 in Philadelphia.

Tomkins attended the University of Pennsylvania, studying drama and playwriting. Despite these literary leanings, he enrolled in Penn's graduate psychology program. After earning his Master's degree, Tomkins transferred to the philosophy department . In philosophy, Tomkins studied logic and value theory, completing his PhD in 1934. Having difficulty finding academic work during the Depression, Tomkins worked for a year as a horse racing handicapper, studying the dispositions of horses to give gamblers an edge on their betting.

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