Richard Bernstein
Richard Bernstein
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Richard Bernstein was a prominent American philosopher, critic, and journalist, best known for his work as a book reviewer for The New York Times.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on April 13, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York, Bernstein passed away on February 10, 1990.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Bernstein was an American citizen and held various professions throughout his life, including philosopher, critic, journalist, and teacher. He spent a significant portion of his career at the University of Chicago, where he taught philosophy from 1946 until his retirement in 1985.
Early Life and Background
Raised in Brooklyn's Lower East Side, Bernstein grew up in a family that valued education and encouraged intellectual pursuits. His early life was marked by a strong interest in politics and social issues, which would later influence his writing and philosophical views. After completing high school, he attended the City College of New York before transferring to Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree.
Major Accomplishments
Bernstein's academic career spanned several decades and included notable positions at prominent institutions. He was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and held visiting professorships at various universities, including Yale and Princeton. Bernstein's contributions to philosophy were primarily focused on existentialism and phenomenology.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of his most influential works include "The Restructure of Social and Political Thought" (1955), which examined the intersection of philosophy and politics, and "Praxis and Action: Contemporary Debates in Philosophy" (1967), a collection of essays that explored the application of philosophical theories to real-world problems. Bernstein's work as a book reviewer for The New York Times was also highly regarded.
Impact and Legacy
Bernstein's impact on philosophy is felt through his contributions to existentialism and phenomenology, fields he helped shape during his career. His critiques of modernity and emphasis on the importance of praxis (practical action) in philosophical inquiry continue to influence contemporary thought.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Bernstein's legacy extends beyond his academic work, as his writings often addressed broader social issues and engaged with the complexities of modern life. His ability to convey complex ideas through clear and concise language has made him a widely quoted source in discussions on philosophy, politics, and culture.
Throughout his career, Bernstein demonstrated an unwavering commitment to intellectual rigor and social responsibility, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire reflection and debate.
Quotes by Richard Bernstein

The market might reward some companies during the second half of 2004 for producing better-than-expected earnings because of the tax windfall, ... but history suggests that the market will penalize those same companies if their earnings decelerate in 2005 from 2004's tax-induced growth.

If you're in the equity market, you want to focus on the largest cap, highest quality companies,

At the rate it's going right now, profitability will accelerate, but at a very, very slow pace, ... much slower than what's implied by valuation in the market.

It will be interesting to see if these companies' misfortunes are indeed attributable to weather and temporary, or perhaps better attributable to the Fed and slowing economic growth.

Stocks with significant foreign exposure should help to support stocks. If the dollar continues to fall and commodity prices remain strong, then earnings are likely to be stronger than investors currently expect.

The big telecoms still have to be among the most disliked stocks in the world. They are so under-owned that if we see a continuation of more good news than bad, the stocks will perform quite well.

The more generators sold, the more consumer confidence has been hurt, as this would tend to indicate that people do not trust the infrastructure currently in place. If, however, consumers shrug off the ... situation and relatively few generators are sold, then this would be perceived as a positive.

People say these companies are closely held and that the executives are trying to diversify, but why now?

People used to build wealth through building equity in their homes. Today, people prefer to speculate on the price of their house by using historically high levels of leverage.
