Will Durant
Historian and philosopher, The Story of Civilization

Born
November 5th, 1885
139 years ago
Died
November 7th, 1981
43 years ago — 96 years old
Category
Thinkers & Philosophers
Country
United States
Links & References
An American historian and philosopher, contributed significantly to popularizing history through writings. Co-authored with his wife, authored a multi-volume series, The Story of Civilization, which detailed Western history from ancient times to the 19th century. Received the Pulitzer Prize for The Story of Philosophy, which discussed the contributions of various philosophers throughout history. Emphasized the accessibility of historical knowledge and the relevance of philosophy in understanding human society.
Co-authored The Story of Civilization series
Received Pulitzer Prize for The Story of Philosophy
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