Corliss Lamont

Corliss Lamont – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life, philosophy, activism, and enduring legacy of Corliss Lamont—American philosopher, humanist, and socialist (1902–1995). Discover his biography, major works, key ideas, and powerful quotations.

Introduction

Corliss Lamont (March 28, 1902 – April 26, 1995) remains a fascinating figure at the intersection of philosophy, activism, and humanism. He was a staunch advocate for civil liberties, a committed socialist thinker, and a passionate defender of secular humanism. Over the course of his long life, he combined intellectual rigor with political engagement, wrote prolifically, and intervened in some of the defining civil liberties battles in mid-20th century America. Today, his life and writings offer us insight into how reason, ethics, and public commitment can intersect.

Early Life and Family

Corliss Lamont was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on March 28, 1902. Thomas W. Lamont, a prominent banker and later chairman at J.P. Morgan & Co., and Florence Haskell Corliss. His upbringing afforded him access to excellent education and resources, yet he gravitated early toward intellectual and moral concerns rather than mere privilege.

From his family background, he inherited both opportunity and a sense of responsibility: his father was influential in business and philanthropy, which later allowed Corliss to fund projects he believed in.

Youth and Education

Lamont’s academic promise was evident early on. He graduated valedictorian from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1920. Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude in 1924. New College, Oxford, where he roomed with the noted biologist Julian Huxley. Columbia University, where he studied under the pragmatist philosopher John Dewey.

By 1928, Lamont was already teaching philosophy at Columbia; in 1932, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Columbia.

Career and Achievements

Philosophical Writings & Humanism

Lamont was deeply committed to secular humanism. His best-known philosophical work is The Philosophy of Humanism (originally published as Humanism as a Philosophy in 1949).

One of his earlier and controversial works was The Illusion of Immortality (1935, originally published as Issues of Immortality in 1932), in which he rejects belief in life after death.

Lamont was active in publishing a “Basic Pamphlets” series (about 29 numbered titles) on urgent socio-political themes: civil liberties, foreign policy, war, McCarthyism, academic freedom, etc.

Activism, Civil Liberties & Politics

Philosophy for Lamont was never detached from social engagement. He was a committed civil liberties advocate and political activist. In 1932 he began serving on the Board of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

In the 1940s, Lamont became a key figure in U.S.–Soviet friendship efforts. He was a founding member and first chairman (1943–1947) of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship (NCASF).

In the 1950s, during the height of McCarthyism, Lamont was subpoenaed by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He refused to discuss others’ beliefs, invoking the First Amendment, and as a result was cited for contempt of Congress. Bill of Rights Fund (with $50,000 of his own money) to support civil liberties defenders.

His legal activism includes Lamont v. Postmaster General, a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court in 1965 unanimously struck down a law permitting the Post Office to refuse delivery of “communist” propaganda unless the recipient specifically requested it. free speech protection under the First Amendment.

Lamont also ran for U.S. Senate in New York (1952, on the American Labor ticket; 1958, Independent-Socialist), though unsuccessfully.

In later years, he served as chairman of the National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee (NECLC) until his death. American Humanist Association and in 1977 was named Humanist of the Year. Gandhi Peace Award.

Philanthropy & Legacy Projects

After his parents’ deaths, Lamont used his resources for intellectual and cultural philanthropy. He funded the preservation of manuscripts of American philosophers—especially George Santayana, as well as Rockwell Kent and John Masefield.

He endowed positions at major universities: for example, Corliss Lamont Professor of Civil Liberties at Columbia. Half-Moon Foundation in 1979, a nonprofit committed to peace, environmental protection, civil liberties, and the UN.

Lamont’s influence extended through his extensive correspondence, public lectures, and support of civil rights causes, ensuring his ideas remained visible across generations.

Historical Milestones & Context

Corliss Lamont’s life spanned much of the 20th century, and his career was deeply shaped by the central conflicts of that era:

• The Great Depression pushed many intellectuals toward social critique and radical politics; Lamont’s early radicalization happened in that milieu.

• World War II & the Cold War saw Lamont navigating the tension between his socialist sympathies and the repressive tendencies of some communist regimes.

• McCarthyism and the Red Scare defined the 1950s; Lamont was directly involved in opposition to censorship, blacklisting, and anti-communist excesses.

• The Civil Rights Movement, decolonization, Vietnam War, and free-speech controversies of the 1960s–70s provided fertile ground for Lamont’s activism in civil liberties, peace, and humanism.

• His challenge in Lamont v. Postmaster General (1965) is a landmark in First Amendment jurisprudence.

• Late in life, he continued publishing and supporting intellectual freedom—even during political confrontations and culture wars of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Thus, Lamont did not merely react to history; he sought to engage and shape it through philosophy, litigation, and public advocacy.

Legacy and Influence

Corliss Lamont’s influence persists in multiple domains:

1. Philosophy & Humanism
   Lamont helped articulate a modern secular humanism robust enough to stand against religious faith and dogma yet grounded in moral seriousness, science, and social responsibility. His Philosophy of Humanism remains a reference point in humanist circles.

2. Civil Liberties Jurisprudence
   His legal battles, particularly Lamont v. Postmaster General, advanced free speech protections. Legal scholars and First Amendment advocates see him as a defender of robust expressive rights.

3. Intellectual & Cultural Patronage
   Through his philanthropy and endowments, Lamont ensured that lesser-known or endangered works of philosophy would be preserved and studied. His support for Santayana, Dewey, and Masefield archives has aided scholarship.

4. Model of Public Philosophy
   Lamont’s life shows how a philosopher can remain publicly engaged, not merely in abstract journals but in the struggles of politics, civil liberties, and human welfare.

5. Inspirational Voice
   His quotations, essays, and pamphlets continue to be shared widely in humanist, secular, and free-speech communities. His voice resonates particularly in debates over reason, freedom, and the role of belief in public life.

In recognition of his contributions, in 1998 he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Humanist Service Award by the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

Personality and Talents

Lamont was known for intellectual courage: he held and defended controversial views even when out of fashion. He was not a mere theorist; his life was one of practical activism. At the same time, he often combined erudition with clarity, making complex philosophical ideas accessible to wider audiences.

He was generous in his use of wealth for public good, willing to risk legal and reputational harm, and persistent in his commitment to civil rights. His writing often balances analytic reason with moral passion.

Lamont also possessed versatility: he wrote philosophical treatises, pamphlets, legal arguments, memoirs, poetry, and editorial introductions. He engaged equally with metaphysical questions (e.g. immortality) and hard political issues (e.g. censorship).

Moreover, though coming from a position of privilege, he cultivated humility and moral seriousness. His blending of head and heart, the intellectual and the ethical, was central to his vision of humanism.

Famous Quotes of Corliss Lamont

Here are some of his most memorable and incisive quotations:

• “True freedom is the capacity for acting according to one’s true character, to be altogether one’s self, to be self-determined and not subject to outside coercion.”

• “The intuition of free will gives us the truth.”

• “I believe firmly that in making ethical decisions, man has the prerogative of true freedom of choice.”

• “The act of willing this or that, of choosing among various courses of conduct, is central in the realm of ethics.”

• “Supernatural entities simply do not exist. … This nonreality … means … that men do not possess supernatural and immortal souls; … our cosmos does not possess … a supernatural and eternal God.”

• “The wise man looks at death with honesty, dignity and calm, recognizing that the tragedy it brings is inherent in the great gift of life.”

• “Humanism believes that the individual attains the good life by harmoniously combining personal satisfactions and continuous self-development with significant work … that contribute to the welfare of the community.”

• “To define twentieth-century humanism briefly, I would say that it is a philosophy of joyous service for the greater good of all humanity … advocating the methods of reason, science, and democracy.”

These quotes reflect key themes in his thought: freedom, choice, rejection of supernaturalism, ethical humanism, and the balance of individual development with social welfare.

Lessons from Corliss Lamont

From Lamont’s life and thought, we can draw several enduring lessons:

1. Philosophy should engage the world.
   Lamont believed philosophy was not for ivory towers but for confronting injustice, defending rights, and shaping public life.

2. Freedom demands responsibility.
   His vision of freedom is not mere license, but the self-directed expression of one’s true character, bound to moral purpose.

3. Rejecting divine authority does not require moral anarchy.
   Lamont held that ethical life can be grounded in reason, empathy, and human solidarity without appeal to supernatural sanction.

4. Courage in adversity matters.
   He faced legal threat, political attacks, and isolation for unpopular causes—but persisted.

5. Use resources for greater good.
   His willingness to devote his inheritance and earnings to preserving philosophical works and defending rights shows how privilege can be turned into public service.

6. Integrate heart and mind.
   Lamont insisted that in humanism, “head and heart must function together” — knowledge without compassion is dangerous; compassion without insight is weak.

Conclusion

Corliss Lamont’s life is a testament to the power of ideas, moral courage, and sustained public engagement. His contributions to humanism, civil liberties, and political philosophy continue to resonate for those seeking a reasoned, ethical, and socially responsible worldview.

If you’d like, I can also share a longer curated collection of Lamont’s quotes, or compare his philosophy with contemporaries like John Dewey or Bertrand Russell. Would you like me to do that?