George Molnar (philosopher)

George Molnar (1934 – 1999) was a Hungarian-born philosopher whose principal area of interest was metaphysics. He worked mainly in the Philosophy Department at the University of Sydney but resided in England in 1976–1982. He published four philosophical papers in two separate spells; the first two in the 1960s and the second two after a return to the profession in the 1990s. His book Powers: A Study in Metaphysics was published posthumously in 2003. A mini memoir Remembering George Molnar; politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher, edited by Molnar's longtime companion, Carlotta McIntosh, was published by Beaujon Press in 2019.

For the cartoonist and architecture lecturer, see George Molnar.

Early Life

Molnar was a Holocaust survivor. His parents were middle-class Jews resident in Budapest. His father Imre deserted baby George and his mother Rosa before World War II and emigrated to Australia with his secretary Mimi[1], leaving them in Budapest during the Nazi occupation and the Siege of Budapest. Rosa and George escaped from Hungary after the war and were stateless refugees in Europe until 1951 when they arrived in Australia.[2]

Education

He studied economics at Sydney University and switched to philosophy in his final year, under the realist philosopher John Anderson.[2] He was later to be appointed as John Anderson Senior Research Fellow.[3]

Career

In the 1950s and 1960s he was a prominent member of the Libertarian Society at Sydney University and associate of the Sydney Push.[4] Philosophers and libertarians who frequented the racecourse knew Molnar as a fervid gambler. His other interests included philately and early Australian colonial history (particularly the railways systems). At various times he was a taxi-driver, tram-conductor, union advocate and public servant.[2]

In the 1970s Molnar was active in philosophy department disturbances.[5] He resigned from Sydney University in 1976 and moved to the UK where he is said to have participated in the left-wing Big Flame think-tank.

In 1982 he returned to Sydney, joined the Department of Veterans' Affairs and became active in the Administrative and Clerical Officers Association (ACOA)[6], later returning to Sydney University as a part-time tutor.

An infrequent but influential publisher of articles and material, Molnar was working on a book at the time of his death. He was in email contact with Stephen Mumford at the University of Nottingham, who acted as archivist of his work, edited the book and saw it through to publication in 2003 under the title Powers: A Study in Metaphysics,[2] with a foreword by David Armstrong. Its publisher, Oxford University Press, wrote "This is contemporary metaphysics of the highest quality".[7] On 30 September 2019 a collection of mini-memoirs of Molnar was launched at a Glebe restaurant. Titled Remembering George Molnar; politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher, the book was put together from the contributions of nineteen friends, lovers and colleagues by Molnar's longtime companion, Carlotta McIntosh. The book was published by Beaujon Press.[8]

Bibliography

Books

Powers: A Study in Metaphysics, by George Molnar, edited by Stephen Mumford, Oxford University Press, 2003

Articles

Sydney views : journal of the Australian States Study Circle, Royal Sydney Philatelic Club.[9]

Sexual Freedom in the Orr Case, Australian Highway 41 (3) (June 1960): pp 54-5.

The Nature of Moralism, Sydney Libertarians Broadsheet 48, May 1966, pp 1-4.

The Sexual Revolution, Sydney Libertarians Broadsheet 39, September 1964, pp 1-5.

References
  1. McIntosh, Carlotta (2019). George Molnar; politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher. Woy Woy: Beaujohn Press. pp. 21–26. ISBN 978-0-9803653-2-0.
  2. Varga S. Twice the man, Sydney Morning Herald 9 August 2003
  3. Cole C. "A difficult legacy" Article on Anderson in Sydney Alumni Magazine (SAM), Winter 2009, p. 34 (fol. 32)
  4. Baker A. J. Sydney Libertarianism and the Push
  5. Franklin J. The Sydney Philosophy Disturbances in Quadrant v.43 (4) (Apr, 1999), pp 16-21
  6. McIntosh, Carlotta; Archer, Richard (2019). George Molnar; politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher. Woy Woy, NSW: Beaujohn Press. pp. 35–41. ISBN 978-0-9803653-2-0.
  7. Powers: A Study in Metaphysics at Oxford University Press, 30 November 2006. Accessed 15 March 2012
  8. McIntosh, Carlotta (2019). Remembering George Molnar : politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher : a collection of memoirs. Woy Woy, NSW : Beaujon Press. ISBN 978-0-9803653-2-0.
  9. Circle, Royal Sydney Philatelic Club Australian States Study (1983). Sydney views : journal of the Australian States Study Circle, Royal Sydney Philatelic Club. [Sydney] : The Circle.

Further reading
  • Farrelly, Elizabeth, When the Push Came to Shove, Sydney Morning Herald (newspaper), 2009.
  • Coombs, Anne, Sex and Anarchy: The Life and Death of the Sydney Push, Ringwood, Vic.: Viking, 1996.
  • Franklin, James, Corrupting the Youth: A History of Philosophy in Australia, Sydney: Macleay Press, 2003.
  • Obituary: 'Free-living philosopher revelled in paradox', The Australian (newspaper), 15 Sept. 1999,
  • Weblin, Mark: The Sydney Line; The Andersonians, 2012
  • McIntosh Carlotta: Remembering George Molnar; politics and passions of a Sydney philosopher, Tascott, Beaujon Press, 2019.
  • Professor David Armstrong, review - Powers: A Study in Metaphysics
  • Shaviro, Steven, review - The Pinocchio Theory - Powers; A Study in Metaphysics
  • Hardy, Rosa (was Molnar) The Tragedy of My Life, 1952, (unpublished manuscript). Sydney Jewish Museum
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