December 29, 1919

There is a definite charm to the ideas of Alfred de Grazia. He was(born in Chicago December 29, 1919, to a family which produced a number of scholars. From an initial focus on political science at the University of Chicago, de Grazia broadened his inquiry into various issues suggested by a study of human nature. The charm comes in when you see an erudite and creative mind tackle basic questions and come up with fresh answers. The initial response is not so much about the veridical component as the majesty of the production. Thus De Grazia spends two books outlining his idea of quantavolution as an explanation for the course of history. Quantavolution emphasizes the abrupt nature of change. And there is no doubt a case to be made for abruptness. He wants to ride this one trick pony a bit far perhaps; just like Darwin did with his own emphasis on gradual change. Homo Schizo: Human nature and behavior (1983) is one of many books De Grazia has written.  Another, Kalos: what is to be done with our world? (1973) emphasizes De Grazia's interest in world government. Evidence of the confusion of the present setup, and hence the necessity for change, is phrased at one point, by stressing the the arid goals of a so-call educated elite. "Thou shalt not spend this college's gift to advertise cat food!" he says. 




http://www.grazian-archive.com/index_2.htm links to his  website. It seems to be a work in progress.


Various of De Grazia's family have been  involved in American intellectual circles and public affairs. Two of his brothers were professors of law and philosophy, and authors of important works.  Sebastian De Grazia was awarded in 1990 the Pulitzer Prize in History for Machiavelli in Hell.  Edward De Grazia was a founding member of the faculty of the Benjamin Cardozo Law School, and has written extensively on freedom of the press. A third brother, Victor was a political campaign manager and onetime Deputy to the Governor of the State of Illinois.

Sebastian De Grazia's other books include Errors of Psychotherapy (1952), and A Country with No Name (1997). An interesting family. The abruptness of intellectual inspiration itself, that "flash of inspiration" , both seen in his family and experienced by himself,  may have confirmed Alfred De Grazia in his Velikovskian ideas about change.