John Hospers

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John Hospers (born 9 June 1918) is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California. Hospers earned advanced degrees from the University of Iowa and Columbia University and taught in the fields of philosophy and aesthetics. Early in his career he taught philosophy at Brooklyn College and at California State University, Los Angeles.

Hospers' books include: Meaning and Truth in the Arts (1946), Introductory Readings in Aesthetics (1969), Artistic Expression (1971), Law and the Market (1985), Introduction to Philosophical Analysis (now in the 4th edition, 1996), Human Conduct (now in the 3rd edition, 1995), Understanding the Arts (1982), Libertarianism – A Political Philosophy for Tomorrow (1971). He was editor of three anthologies and has contributed to books edited by others. He has authored about 150 articles in various scholarly and popular journals.

Hospers was editor of The Personalist (1968-82) and of The Monist (1982-92). He is an editor of Liberty magazine.

He endorsed George W. Bush for president of the United States in 2004. [1]

Hospers was the first presidential candidate of the United States Libertarian Party, running in the 1972 presidential election. He and his vice-presidential running mate, Theodora Nathan, received one electoral vote from Roger MacBride, a Republican elector from Virginia.

Following his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Hospers also ran for governor of California as a Libertarian in 1974.

In 2002, an hour-long video about his life, work, and philosophy was released by the Liberty Fund of Indianapolis as part of its Classics of Liberty series.

He became friends with Ayn Rand in 1961, and according to the Daily Objectivist, "Hospers wasn't exactly a libertarian when he met Ayn Rand, but he largely came around to her way of thinking..." [2]

Preceded by No one (Party not yet commssioned)

Libertarian Party Presidential candidate 1972 (3rd in the electoral college)

Succeeded by Roger MacBride