Somerville, John, 1905-....

American philosopher; president, Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism; president, International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide.

From the description of John Somerville papers, 1930-1995. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123379498

Biographical/Historical Note

American philosopher; president, Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism; president, International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide.

• 1905 March 13: Born, New York City, New York
• 1935 - 1937 : Somerville and his wife, Rose Maurer Somerville, work in the U.S.S.R. studying Soviet philosophy
• 1938: Receives Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University
• 1939 - 1967 : At Hunter College (the City University of New York) Somerville advances from Instructor to Professor Emeritus
• 1946: Author, Soviet Philosophy: A Study of Theory and Practice
• 1949: Author, The Philosophy of Peace
• 1950s: Testifies in three trials as an expert witness on the doctrines of Marxism-Leninism
• 1956: Author, The Communist Trials and the American Tradition
• 1962 - 1987 : Founding editor and Editor in Chief of the translation quarterly, Soviet Studies in Philosophy (now Russian Studies in Philosophy)
• 1962: Co-founder of the Society for the Philosophical Study of Dialectical Materialism (later, the Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism)
• 1963 August: Helps organize first bi-national conference of American and Soviet philosophers at the XIIIth World Congress of Philosophy in Mexico City
• 1963 December 27: Organizes first full dialogue on U.S. soil between American and Soviet philosophers at the American Philosophical Association (APA) conference, in Washington D.C.
• 1967: Author, The Philosophy of Marxism
• 1967 - 1972 : Taught at the United States International University
• 1975: Author, The Peace Revolution: Ethos and Social Process
• 1976: Author, The Crisis: The True Story of How the World Almost Ended (play)
• 1978: Co-founder of The Union of American and Japanese Professionals Against Nuclear Omnicide
• 1980: Initiates California Campaign for No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons
• 1981: Awarded the degree Doctor of Humane Letters from Denison University; Author, Soviet Marxism and Nuclear War and The Last Inquest (play)
• 1983: Co-founder and first president of the International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide (IPPNO) at the XVIIth World Congress of Philosophy in Montreal
• 1984: Initiates National Campaign for a Policy of No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons
• 1986: Organizes first conference of the IPPNO in St. Louis
• 1987: Receives Gandhi Peace Award from the board of directors of Promoting Enduring Peace
• 1987: Receives Bertrand Russell Peace Award
• 1994 January 8: Died, El Cajon, California

From the guide to the John Somerville papers, 1930-1995, (Hoover Institution Archives)