George Kline

George Louis Kline (March 3, 1921 – October 21, 2014) was a philosopher, translator, and prominent American specialist in Russian and Soviet philosophy. He authored over 300 publications, including monographs, edited anthologies, articles, and numerous translations, with works appearing in several languages. Kline is particularly noted for his authoritative studies on Spinoza, Hegel, and Whitehead, and made significant contributions to the study of Marx and the Marxist tradition. He held leadership positions in the Hegel Society of America and the Metaphysical Society of America. His education at Boston University and Columbia University was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Kline's extensive work in Slavic studies included numerous encyclopedia entries, reviews, and bibliographies, and he played a crucial role in making important Russian philosophical texts available in English, most notably Zenkovsky's History of Russian Philosophy and a three-volume anthology of Russian philosophical texts. His scholarship is categorized into five main areas: religious and anti-religious thought in Russia, Russian and Soviet ethical thought, studies of individual Russian philosophers, Marx and the Marxist tradition, and arguments for ethical individualism. Kline's work on 'Nietzschean Marxism' and his seminal book *Spinoza in Soviet Philosophy* were highly influential. He was also a dedicated teacher, developing influential courses on Russian ethical and social theory. Kline is widely recognized for his role in translating Russian poetry, especially the works of Joseph Brodsky, with whom he had a close and enduring association. In recognition of his impact, he received the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Slavic Studies in 1999.