Horace Meyer Kallen (1882–1974) was an American philosopher and a prominent figure in the development of philosophical pragmatism and cultural pluralism in the early 20th century. Born in Bernburg, Germany, he emigrated with his family to the United States as a child and later became a naturalized citizen. Kallen was educated at Harvard University, where he studied under philosophers William James and George Santayana.
Kallen is best known for coining the term "cultural pluralism," a concept advocating for the preservation of distinct cultural identities within a democratic society rather than forced assimilation into a single dominant culture. He articulated this idea in his 1915 essay "Democracy Versus the Melting Pot," in which he critiqued the notion of cultural homogenization and argued that a truly democratic society should respect ethnic and cultural diversity.
He held academic positions at several institutions, including the University of Wisconsin and the New School for Social Research in New York City, where he was a founding faculty member. Throughout his career, Kallen engaged with issues of religion, philosophy, and Jewish identity, and he was an active participant in intellectual and political discourse on civil liberties and education.
Horace Kallen's writings contributed to shaping debates on multiculturalism in American society, and his ideas continue to be referenced in discussions on identity, immigration, and cultural policy.