John Lewis (philosopher) facts for kids

John Lewis (born February 1, 1889 – died February 12, 1976) was a British minister and a deep thinker. He wrote many books about ideas (philosophy), how people live (anthropology), and different beliefs (religion).

John's father was a builder and architect from Wales. He was very religious. But John had different ideas about society and politics. These differences caused arguments, and his father eventually decided not to leave him any inheritance.

John Lewis's Early Life and Studies

John Lewis was born on February 1, 1889. He went to Dulwich College and then to University College London. There, he earned a science degree.

He grew up in the Methodist church, but later joined the Congregational church. He studied to become a minister at Cambridge. In 1916, he became a minister at a Presbyterian church in Gravesend, Kent. Later, in 1924, he moved to a church in Birmingham.

He continued his studies and earned a special degree (a Doctor of Philosophy) from the University of Birmingham. He focused on the ideas of Karl Marx, and he himself became a follower of Marx's ideas.

By 1929, John's strong left-wing political views were not popular with everyone in his church. He then moved to Ipswich to become a Unitarian minister. In Ipswich, his sermons, which often talked about left-wing politics, attracted many young people. However, some older, more traditional church members were unhappy. Their complaints led John to offer to resign. The church members voted, and most of them supported him, so he stayed.

Getting Involved in Society and Politics

John Lewis started taking part in anti-war activities in 1916. Once, he even needed help to get away from an angry crowd.

He also worked to help people who didn't have jobs. He was part of the local group that supported workers' rights, called the Trades Union Council. One Christmas, he led a group of unemployed men to the Town Hall. The Mayor was having a fancy Christmas dinner there. They walked in and sat down, asking to join the meal.

John was also involved with the Boy Scout movement. He ran a Scout troop and wrote books to help train Scouts. He also guided people on outdoor holidays, often going to Switzerland and even helping groups climb the famous Matterhorn mountain.

In the 1935 general election, he tried to become a Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth as a Labour candidate, but he did not win.

His Political Ideas

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia had a big impact on John Lewis. He started to learn Russian. He became a Christian socialist, meaning he believed in both Christian values and socialist ideas. Later, he became a Marxist.

In 1936, a very popular group called the Left Book Club was started by a publisher named Victor Gollancz. John Lewis left his job as a minister in Ipswich to help build a national network of discussion groups for this club. These groups brought together smart people who wanted to be involved in politics but hadn't found a place in traditional left-wing parties. Soon, there were groups in almost every town. The Left Book Club and its groups became a very important political force.

John also became the editor of a British Marxist magazine called Modern Quarterly. He edited it from 1946 to 1953. He enjoyed writing strong arguments and wrote many books and articles about philosophy, social issues, and Marxism. He even had a public debate with a French Marxist thinker named Louis Althusser.

Other Activities and Later Life

During the Second World War, John Lewis gave talks to the British Army. He worked with the Army Education Corps and lectured on various topics, including Britain's wartime ally, the Soviet Union.

He also taught at different schools. For example, he taught biology at Morley College, which is a college for adult education in London.

John Lewis passed away on February 12, 1976.