R.I.P. Mortimer Adler, age 98. One of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, at least if judged by presence in the public forum. Paradoxically, a passionate populist and yet best known for his insistence that it is familiarity with the classical ‘Great Ideas’ that is the best indicator of quality of thought. Adler was a high school dropout who ascended to the University of Chicago faculty, although for much of his career in departments other than the philosophy dept., where his ideas (or perhaps his personality?) were too contentious.