“a product of earth ... a fact of nature ... man”
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Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford was an American historian, sociologist, philosopher of technology, and literary critic. Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture, he had a broad career as a writer. He made significant contributions to social philosophy, American literary and cultural history, and the history of technology.
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culture · American scholar and writer (1895–1990) · architect · historian of technology · historian · sociologist · screenwriter · literary critic · philosopher · journalist · urban planner · writer · also Lewis Mumford, Mumford
Born 19 October 1895 · Died 26 January 1990 · Q469888
23 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 2 entries
“The physical design of cities and their economic functions are secondary to their relationship to the natural environment and to the spiritual values of human community.”
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1990· 3 entries
Died 1990-01-26.
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“The way people in democracies think of the government as something different from themselves is a real handicap. And, of course, sometimes the government confirms their opinion.”
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“I'm a pessimist about probabilities, I'm an optimist about possibilities.”
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1986· 1 entry
Was awarded the National Medal of Arts
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1983· 1 entry
Won Benjamin Franklin Medal (1983).
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1976· 2 entries
Awarded Prix mondial Cino Del Duca (1976).
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Was awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
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1975· 1 entry
Mumford was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
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1971· 1 entry
Won Hodgkins Medal (1971).
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1969· 1 entry
Won Leonardo da Vinci Medal (1969).
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1965· 1 entry
Won Emerson-Thoreau Medal (1965).
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1964· 1 entry
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Lyndon B. Johnson (1964).
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1963· 1 entry
Mumford received the Frank Jewett Mather Award for art criticism from the College Art Association
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1962· 1 entry
Awarded National Book Award for Nonfiction for The City in History (1962).
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1961· 1 entry
Won Royal Gold Medal (1961).
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1944· 1 entry
Mumford characterized his orientation toward the study of humanity as "organic humanism
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1941· 1 entry
And the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1947
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1932· 1 entry
Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship (1932).
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1919· 1 entry
And became associate editor of The Dial, an influential modernist literary journal
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1918· 1 entry
Joined the Navy to serve in World War I and was assigned as a radio electrician
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1895· 1 entry
Born 1895-10-19.
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