author
Herbert Ernest Cushman
1865–1944
A longtime Tufts philosophy professor, he wrote clear, approachable books that guided readers through the history of philosophy. His best-known work, A Beginner's History of Philosophy, helped make big ideas feel readable to newcomers.
2 Audiobooks
A Beginner's History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Ancient and Mediæval Philosophy
by Herbert Ernest Cushman
A Beginner's History of Philosophy, Vol. 2: Modern Philosophy
by Herbert Ernest Cushman
About the author
Born in Auburn, Maine, on October 24, 1865, Herbert Ernest Cushman studied at Harvard University and also had strong ties to Bates College. He went on to build his career as a philosopher and teacher, eventually serving as a professor of philosophy at Tufts College.
Cushman is best remembered for writing A Beginner's History of Philosophy, a two-volume survey that introduces ancient, medieval, and modern thought in a straightforward way. He also translated Wilhelm Windelband's History of Ancient Philosophy into English, showing his interest in making major philosophical works more accessible to students and general readers.
He died in 1944. Today, his books remain of interest to readers who want a calm, organized introduction to the development of Western philosophy, especially in the classroom-friendly style of the early twentieth century.