Ginsberg, Morris (1889–1970)

Morris Ginsberg, born into a Lithuanian Jewish community within the Russian empire, was educated in classical Hebrew and started his career as a Talmudic scholar. Nevertheless, he became a leading English sociologist, philosopher, and humanist. He obtained a master's degree in philosophy at University College in London in 1910. Ginsberg briefly taught philosophy in 1921, then became an assistant in the sociology department, and finally achieved a lectureship in the philosophy department in 1924. He became the Martin White Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics in 1929 and then succeeded Leonard Hobhouse (1864–1929) as sociology department chair. Elected a fellow in the British Academy, Ginsberg became professor emeritus in 1968. Ginsberg and Hobhouse enjoyed substantial success with their collaborative writings.

Ginsberg concerned himself ...