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Norman Cohn Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Norman Cohn: Historian of Collective Psychopathology and Fanaticism

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Norman Cohn: Historian of Collective Psychopathology and Fanaticism Study Guide

Biographical Foundations

Norman Cohn was primarily identified as a British historian specializing in the study of fanaticism and persecution.

Answer: False

Explanation: The source material identifies Norman Cohn as a British historian and writer whose work concentrated on the roots of persecutorial fanaticism, rather than an American historian specializing in medieval literature.

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Norman Cohn was born in London in 1915 and passed away in Cambridge in 2007.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn was born on January 12, 1915, in London, England, and died on July 31, 2007, in Cambridge, England.

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Norman Cohn's parents were both German Jewish immigrants, which significantly influenced his academic focus on Jewish history.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn's father was of German Jewish heritage, but his mother was Catholic. This mixed heritage, rather than a singular focus on Jewish history, contributed to his perspective on societal divisions and fanaticism.

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Norman Cohn studied Modern Languages at Christ Church, Oxford, completing his degrees in the late 1930s.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn studied Modern Languages, specifically French and German, at Christ Church, Oxford, earning his degrees in 1936 and 1939, rather than history and political science in the early 1940s.

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What was Norman Cohn's full name?

Answer: Norman Rufus Cohn

Explanation: Norman Cohn's full name was Norman Rufus Colin Cohn.

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Norman Cohn was primarily known as a historian and writer from which country?

Answer: Britain

Explanation: Norman Cohn was primarily known as a British academic, historian, and writer.

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In which city and country was Norman Cohn born?

Answer: London, England

Explanation: Norman Cohn was born in London, England.

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Which of the following best describes Norman Cohn's familial background and its influence on him?

Answer: His father was Jewish and his mother Catholic, making him feel 'a man between all worlds'.

Explanation: Norman Cohn's father was of German Jewish heritage, and his mother was Catholic. He described this background as making him feel 'a man between all worlds,' which potentially influenced his perspective.

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What subjects did Norman Cohn study at Christ Church, Oxford?

Answer: Modern Languages (French and German)

Explanation: Norman Cohn studied Modern Languages, specifically French and German, at Christ Church, Oxford.

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Military Service and Post-War Observations

During World War II, Norman Cohn served in the British Army's Royal Artillery, utilizing his language skills.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn served in the British Army during World War II, but he was commissioned into the Queen's Royal Regiment and later transferred to the Intelligence Corps, where his language skills were utilized, not primarily in the Royal Artillery.

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While stationed in Vienna post-WWII, Cohn observed parallels between Nazi and Stalinist persecutorial methods, sparking his research interest.

Answer: True

Explanation: While stationed in Vienna after World War II, Norman Cohn encountered refugees from Stalinism and noted similarities in persecutorial obsessions between Nazism and Stalinism, which fueled his research interest.

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During his military service, Norman Cohn was commissioned into the Queen's Royal Regiment and later transferred to which corps?

Answer: Intelligence Corps

Explanation: During his military service in World War II, Norman Cohn was commissioned into the Queen's Royal Regiment and later transferred to the Intelligence Corps.

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What significant observation did Norman Cohn make while stationed in Vienna after World War II?

Answer: Similarities in persecutorial obsessions between Nazism and Stalinism.

Explanation: While stationed in Vienna post-WWII, Norman Cohn observed striking similarities in the persecutorial obsessions between Nazism and Stalinism, which significantly influenced his research interests.

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Academic Career and Recognition

Norman Cohn held a Fellowship in the British Academy (FBA) and spent 14 years as a professor at the University of Sussex.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn was a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) and served as a professorial fellow and the Astor-Wolfson Professor at the University of Sussex for 14 years.

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After his military discharge, Norman Cohn primarily taught at American universities, including Harvard and Yale.

Answer: False

Explanation: Following his military discharge, Norman Cohn taught at universities in Scotland, Ireland, England, the United States, and Canada, not exclusively or primarily at American institutions like Harvard and Yale.

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David Astor, editor of The Times, funded the establishment of a center for Norman Cohn to study the causes of extremism.

Answer: False

Explanation: David Astor, who funded the establishment of the Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology, was the editor of The Observer, not The Times.

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The Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology was established at the University of Oxford in 1966.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology was formally established as a research project at the University of Sussex in 1966, not at the University of Oxford.

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The philosopher Isaiah Berlin was instrumental in nominating Norman Cohn for Fellowship in the British Academy.

Answer: True

Explanation: The prominent philosopher Isaiah Berlin was instrumental in nominating Norman Cohn for Fellowship in the British Academy.

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The FBA designation signifies that Norman Cohn was a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Answer: False

Explanation: The FBA designation signifies that Norman Cohn was a Fellow of the British Academy, not a Fellow of the Royal Society.

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What academic distinction did Norman Cohn hold, signifying high scholarly achievement?

Answer: Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)

Explanation: Norman Cohn held the distinction of being a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), signifying high scholarly achievement.

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Who initially approached Norman Cohn, leading to the establishment of the Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology?

Answer: David Astor

Explanation: David Astor, the editor of The Observer, approached Norman Cohn, which led to the establishment of the Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology.

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What was the primary purpose of the Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology?

Answer: To investigate the causes of extremism and persecution.

Explanation: The primary purpose of the Centre for Research in Collective Psychopathology was to investigate the causes of extremism and persecution.

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Norman Cohn spent a significant portion of his academic career at which university?

Answer: University of Sussex

Explanation: Norman Cohn spent a significant portion of his academic career, serving as the Astor-Wolfson Professor of History, at the University of Sussex.

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Which prominent philosopher nominated Norman Cohn for Fellowship in the British Academy?

Answer: Isaiah Berlin

Explanation: The prominent philosopher Isaiah Berlin nominated Norman Cohn for Fellowship in the British Academy.

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Core Research Areas: Fanaticism and Persecution

Norman Cohn's historical research primarily focused on the economic factors driving social change in 19th-century Europe.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn's historical research primarily focused on the roots of persecutorial fanaticism and its resurgence, rather than economic factors driving social change.

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Norman Cohn described his work's overarching theme as the study of economic systems and their impact on societal stability.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn described the overarching theme of his work as the study of how societies attempt to purify themselves by annihilating perceived agents of evil, rather than focusing on economic systems and societal stability.

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Norman Cohn's research suggested that ancient beliefs laid the groundwork for modern forms of fanaticism and persecution.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn's research, particularly in works like 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come,' suggested that ancient beliefs provided the foundation for modern forms of fanaticism and persecution.

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What did Norman Cohn state was the overarching theme of all his work?

Answer: The exploration of how societies purify themselves by annihilating perceived evil.

Explanation: Norman Cohn described the overarching theme of his work as the study of how societies attempt to purify themselves by annihilating perceived agents of corruption and evil.

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What was the primary focus of Norman Cohn's historical research, as described in the source?

Answer: The roots of persecutorial fanaticism and its resurgence.

Explanation: The primary focus of Norman Cohn's historical research was the study of the roots of persecutorial fanaticism and its resurgence, exploring how collective myths contribute to extremism and persecution.

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Key Scholarly Contributions: Major Works

The book 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' explores patterns of revolutionary movements driven by apocalyptic beliefs.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn's influential book, 'The Pursuit of the Millennium,' traces the patterns of chiliastic upheaval, or revolutionary movements driven by apocalyptic beliefs.

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Norman Cohn's book 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come' traces the origins of millennial religious themes back to ancient civilizations.

Answer: True

Explanation: In 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come,' Norman Cohn explored the origins of millennial religious themes, tracing them back to ancient civilizations.

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'The Pursuit of the Millennium' was recognized as one of the 50 most influential books of the 20th century.

Answer: False

Explanation: 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' was recognized in a survey by The Times Literary Supplement as one of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century, not the 50.

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Norman Cohn's book 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come' was published in 1993 and later revised in 2001.

Answer: True

Explanation: 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come' was published in 1993, with a revised edition appearing in 2001.

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Which of Norman Cohn's books traced the patterns of "chiliastic upheaval" or revolutionary movements driven by apocalyptic beliefs?

Answer: The Pursuit of the Millennium

Explanation: Norman Cohn's book, 'The Pursuit of the Millennium,' traced the patterns of chiliastic upheaval, which refers to revolutionary movements driven by apocalyptic beliefs.

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In 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come', Norman Cohn explored the origins of which type of religious themes?

Answer: Millennial

Explanation: In 'Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come,' Norman Cohn explored the origins of millennial religious themes.

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'The Pursuit of the Millennium' was recognized in a survey by The Times Literary Supplement as:

Answer: One of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century.

Explanation: In a survey by The Times Literary Supplement, 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' was recognized as one of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century.

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Norman Cohn's book 'Noah's Flood: The Genesis Story in Western Thought' examines the interpretation of which biblical story?

Answer: The story of Noah's Flood

Explanation: Norman Cohn's book 'Noah's Flood: The Genesis Story in Western Thought' examines the interpretation of the biblical story of Noah's Flood throughout Western intellectual history.

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Which of the following is NOT a book written by Norman Cohn, according to the source?

Answer: The Myth of the Twentieth Century

Explanation: According to the provided source material, 'The Myth of the Twentieth Century' is not listed as one of Norman Cohn's published works, unlike 'Warrant for Genocide,' 'Europe's Inner Demons,' and 'The Pursuit of the Millennium'.

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The book 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' specifically covers popular religious and social movements in Europe during which centuries?

Answer: Eleventh to Sixteenth Centuries

Explanation: The book 'The Pursuit of the Millennium' specifically covers popular religious and social movements in Europe during the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries.

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Analysis of Conspiracy and Scapegoating

'Europe's Inner Demons' examines the historical origins of the persecution of Jews, analyzing 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'.

Answer: False

Explanation: 'Europe's Inner Demons' examines the historical origins of the mania for scapegoating minorities and the Great European witch-hunt, rather than focusing on the persecution of Jews or analyzing 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'.

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In 'Warrant for Genocide', Norman Cohn argues that 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' was a genuine historical document outlining a Jewish plan for global control.

Answer: False

Explanation: In 'Warrant for Genocide,' Norman Cohn critically analyzes 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' as an antisemitic forgery and conspiracy theory, arguing against its authenticity and its depiction of a Jewish plan for global control.

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The revised edition of 'Europe's Inner Demons' published in 1993 focused on the demonization of Christians within medieval Christendom.

Answer: True

Explanation: The revised edition of 'Europe's Inner Demons,' published in 1993, carried the subtitle 'The Demonization of Christians in Medieval Christendom'.

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'Warrant for Genocide' analyzes 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' as a genuine historical document detailing a Jewish plot for world domination.

Answer: False

Explanation: 'Warrant for Genocide' critically analyzes 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' as an antisemitic forgery and conspiracy theory, arguing against its authenticity and its depiction of a Jewish plot for world domination.

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Norman Cohn argued that the conspiracy theory in 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' was a significant psychological factor in the Nazi Holocaust.

Answer: True

Explanation: Norman Cohn argued in 'Warrant for Genocide' that the conspiracy theory presented in 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' served as a major psychological factor motivating the persecution and massacre of Jewish people during the Nazi Holocaust.

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What historical phenomenon was the primary focus of Norman Cohn's book 'Europe's Inner Demons'?

Answer: The origins of the Great European witch-hunt

Explanation: Norman Cohn's book 'Europe's Inner Demons' primarily focused on the historical origins of the mania for scapegoating minorities, particularly examining the Great European witch-hunt.

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Norman Cohn's book 'Warrant for Genocide' critically analyzes which antisemitic forgery?

Answer: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

Explanation: Norman Cohn's book 'Warrant for Genocide' critically analyzes 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,' an antisemitic forgery.

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What connection did Cohn argue existed between 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' and the Holocaust?

Answer: It served as a major psychological factor motivating the persecution and massacre of Jewish people.

Explanation: Cohn argued that 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' served as a major psychological factor motivating the persecution and massacre of Jewish people during the Holocaust.

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What is the subtitle of the 1993 revised edition of Norman Cohn's 'Europe's Inner Demons'?

Answer: The Demonization of Christians in Medieval Christendom

Explanation: The subtitle of the 1993 revised edition of Norman Cohn's 'Europe's Inner Demons' is 'The Demonization of Christians in Medieval Christendom'.

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What did Norman Cohn's essay 'The Myth of the Jewish World Conspiracy' discuss?

Answer: A case study in collective psychopathology related to conspiracy theories.

Explanation: Norman Cohn's essay 'The Myth of the Jewish World Conspiracy' discussed this conspiracy theory as a case study in collective psychopathology.

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Personal Life and Enduring Influence

Norman Cohn's son, Nik Cohn, followed in his father's footsteps as a historian specializing in collective psychopathology.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Norman Cohn's son, Nik Cohn, is a writer, he did not follow his father's path as a historian specializing in collective psychopathology.

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Norman Cohn's second wife, Marina Voikhanskaya, was a historian known for her work on Russian revolutionary movements.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn's second wife, Marina Voikhanskaya, was a psychiatrist known for her activism against the Soviet Union's treatment of dissidents, not a historian focused on Russian revolutionary movements.

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According to psychiatrist Anthony Storr, Norman Cohn focused his life's work on mainstream political history.

Answer: False

Explanation: According to psychiatrist Anthony Storr, Norman Cohn focused his life's work on studying collective myths that shape societal assumptions, prejudices, and beliefs, rather than mainstream political history.

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Norman Cohn's work primarily influenced the fields of economics and sociology.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn's work primarily influenced fields such as history, philosophy, and literature, impacting the study of collective myths, extremism, and persecution, rather than economics and sociology.

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Norman Cohn died at the age of 82.

Answer: False

Explanation: Norman Cohn died at the age of 92, not 82, in 2007.

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According to psychiatrist Anthony Storr, Norman Cohn's life's work focused on studying:

Answer: Collective myths that shape societal assumptions and beliefs.

Explanation: According to psychiatrist Anthony Storr, Norman Cohn's life's work focused on studying collective myths that shape societal assumptions, prejudices, and beliefs.

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What was Norman Cohn's age when he died in 2007?

Answer: 92

Explanation: Norman Cohn was 92 years old when he died in 2007.

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What was Norman Cohn's cause of death?

Answer: A degenerative heart condition

Explanation: Norman Cohn died from a degenerative heart condition.

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Norman Cohn's son, Nik Cohn, is known for his work as a:

Answer: Writer

Explanation: Norman Cohn's son, Nik Cohn, is known for his work as a writer.

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Norman Cohn's second wife, Marina Voikhanskaya, was known for her activism against which political system?

Answer: The Soviet Union's treatment of dissidents

Explanation: Norman Cohn's second wife, Marina Voikhanskaya, was known for her activism against the Soviet Union's treatment of dissidents.

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