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Michael Novak (born September 9 1933 ) is an American Catholic philosopher and diplomat. The author of almost 25 books on the philosophy and theology of culture, Novak is most widely known for his book ''The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism'' (1982). In 1994 he was awarded the Templeton Prize For Progress In Religion , which included a million-dollar purse awarded at Buckingham Palace. He writes books and articles focused on Capitalism , religion, and the Politics Of Democratization . Novak served as U.S. chief ambassador to the United Nations Commission On Human Rights in 1981 and as the ambassador to the Conference On Security And Cooperation In Europe . Novak is currently George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute where he introduced Donald Rumsfeld to Bernard Lonergan 's categories of the "known, known unknown and unknown unknown." EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Novak was born in 1933 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania . He earned an M.A. in history and philosophy of religion from Harvard University in 1966, a Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus (a degree in Theology ), from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1958, and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and English (Summa Cum Laude) from Stonehill College in 1956. Novak attended Harvard University to study philosophy and religion, hoping to obtain a doctorate in philosophy of religion. Novak stated that he thought the philosophy department was too focused on analytic philosophy, neglecting religious philosophy . He did not receive his doctorate and he started work as a writer. EARLY WRITINGS Second Vatican Council Novak worked as a correspondent for the ''National Catholic Reporter'' during the second session of the Second Vatican Council in Rome, where he also got the opportunity to fulfill a book contract for a fellow reporter who was not able to complete the project. The result was Novak's second book, ''The Open Church'', a journalistic account of the events of the second session of the Council. EARLY BOOKS Michael Novak has published two novels: ''The Tiber Was Silver'' (1962) and ''Naked I Leave'' (1970). At the time, he considered the modest $600 advance to be "a fortune" {Link without Title} STANFORD YEARS Novak's friendship with the and Marxism . SUNY OLD WESTBURY Novak left Stanford for a post as dean of a new "experimental" school at the newly-founded State University of New York at Old Westbury, Long Island. Novak's writings during this period included the philosophical essay ''The Experience of Nothingness'' (1970, republished in 1998), in which he cautioned the New Left that utopianism could lead to alienation and rootlessness. Novak's novel ''Naked I Leave'' (1970) chronicles his experiences in California and in the Second Vatican Council and his journal from seminarian to reporter. HIS LATER TEACHING AND WRITING CAREER After serving at Old Westbury/SUNY from 1968 to 1973, Novak launched the humanities program at the Rockefeller Foundation in 1973-1974. In 1976, he accepted a tenured position at Syracuse University as University Professor and Ledden-Watson Distinguished Professor of Religion. In the fall semesters of 1987 and 1988, Novak held the W. Harold and Martha Welch chair as Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame. In the spring of 1978, Novak joined the American Enterprise Institute for Social Policy Research as a Resident Scholar, a position he still holds at the present time. Novak is a frequent contributor to magazines and journals including '' First Things '' and '' National Review ''. He is a member of the Catholic Advisory Board for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds . Novak is also a board member of the Capital Research Center and the Center Of The American Experiment . OPINIONS
PERSONAL LIFE He is married to Karen Laub-Novak, a professional artist and illustrator. They have three children (Richard, Tanya, and Jana) and three grandchildren. SEE ALSO REFERENCES PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
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