Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge

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Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge
Formation1969
TypeNGO, educational charity, publisher
PurposeHealth and human nature information
HeadquartersLos Altos, California, US
Founder
Robert E. Ornstein
President
David Sasseen
Executive Director
Sally Mallam
Shane DeHaven – Secretary

Jill Barnes – Treasurer Directors: Margaret Caudill Jonathan Russell

Charles Swencionis
WebsiteOfficial website

The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK) is a non-profit educational charity[1][2] and publisher[citation needed] established in 1969[2] by the psychologist and writer Robert E. Ornstein[citation needed] and based in Los Altos, California, in the United States.[2] Its aim is to provide public education and information on issues of health and human nature.

Founder[edit]

Robert Ornstein, psychologist, writer and professor at Stanford University, founded and chaired ISHK.[3][verification needed] He has also contributed to the London-based Institute for Cultural Research set up by his associate, the writer and Sufi teacher, Idries Shah.[4]

Aims and activities[edit]

ISHK's primary aim is public education, by providing new information on health and human nature through its book service, through its children's imprint Hoopoe Books and adult imprint Malor Books, which includes the works of Robert Ornstein. Hoopoe Books focuses on publishing traditional children's stories from Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Middle East, including works by Idries Shah,[5][6] such as The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water.[7]

The Institute also operates philanthropic projects, including Share Literacy, which provides books for children; support for caregivers; training and support for teachers, and independent program evaluation. Through its Share Literacy Program, Hoopoe Books has partnered with other organizations to give books away to children in low-income areas.[8] It also provides books free of charge to lending libraries.[9]

ISHK has worked with organizations such as The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange to provide children in Afghanistan with desperately needed books for distribution to schools, orphanages and libraries throughout the country, in order to address the literacy crisis.[10]

Events organized by ISHK include a symposium in 2006 on "The Core of Early Christian Spirituality: Its Relevance to the World Today" which featured presentations by Elaine Pagels, well known for her studies and writing on the Gnostic Gospels (Beyond Belief: A Different View of Christianity); New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman (Jesus and the Apocalyptic Vision), and scholar of religion and Professor, Marvin Meyer (Magdalene in the Gnostic Gospels: From the Gospel of Mary to the DaVinci Code, Mary Magdelene in History and Culture).[11] In 1976, Robert Ornstein and Idries Shah presented a seminar, Traditional Esoteric Psychologies in Contemporary Life, in cooperation with The New School, New York City.[12]

In 2010, ISHK set up a web site for a project entitled The Human Journey. It aims to "follow humanity from our origins in Eastern Africa and the Middle East to the present day, with an eye to what comes next."[13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ ISHK is a 501(c)3 educational corporation, incorporated in the State of California. Federal Tax ID #94-1705600.
  2. ^ a b c "Charity details for Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge". Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Retrieved 2024-06-05.[permanent dead link] FEIN: 941705600. California entity ID: 0586548.
  3. ^ "Hemispherical thinker". Time. Time Inc. 8 July 1974. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05.
  4. ^ "List of Monographs". The Institute for Cultural Research. Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2010-02-08. See biographical detail under Physiological Studies of Consciousness: Robert Ornstein.
  5. ^ Cole, John Y. (May 2006). "New reading partners, promotions: News from the Center for the Book". Library of Congress Information Bulletin. Vol. 65, no. 5. Library of Congress. ISSN 0041-7904. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  6. ^ "About.com: Children's Books: Publishers and Getting Published". About.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2010-02-08. See entry for Hoopoe Books.
  7. ^ Shah, Idries (1998). The lion who saw himself in the water. Boston: Hoopoe Books. ISBN 978-1-883536-12-1. OCLC 36629874. Republished as The lion who saw himself in the water. Boston: Hoopoe Books. August 2001. ISBN 978-1-883536-25-1. OCLC 99826664.
  8. ^ "About Share Literacy". Share Literacy. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  9. ^ "About ISHK/Mission". The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  10. ^ "The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange: Share Literacy Afghanistan". Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange. Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-02-08. In partnership with ISHK.
  11. ^ "ISHK Symposium". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. 2006. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  12. ^ "ISHK History East and West Seminar May 1976". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-02-08. Psychologies – East and West Seminar: May 1976.
  13. ^ "ISHK The Human Journey". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Retrieved 2010-02-08.

External links[edit]

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