compounded of equal parts

[GoldfishLord]

There are ''core knowledge'' schools, based on the works of E. D. Hirsch; ''essential'' schools, after Theodore Sizer; ''Comer'' schools, where a diagram of James Comer's nurturing educational concept is sure to be posted on the office door. And in this rarefied world, compounded of equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust,

Source: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/99/05/09/reviews/990509.09traubt.html

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I see "equal parts" as an adverb.
How would you see it?

 

[Piscean]

In future, please give the complete sentence: And in this rarefied world, compounded of equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust, Howard Gardner, a Harvard psychologist, is first among equals.

Equal parts is a noun phrase, prepositional object of of. Compounded of equal parts ... is an adjectival phrase modifying the noun phrase rarefied world.

 

[GoldfishLord]

And in this rarefied world, compounded of equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust, Howard Gardner, a Harvard psychologist, is first among equals.

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Is "moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust" in apposition to "equal parts"?

 

[jutfrank]

When we talk about the composition of various things, we do it like this:

A White Russian is made of one part coffee liqueur, two parts vodka and three parts cream.

In the sentence you're asking about, equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust means the same as 'one part moral philosophy, one part cognitive theory, and one part chalk dust'.

 

[probus]

Did you write the sentence about Howard Gardner yourself @GoldfishLord? If not, you must provide the source and author. This is a legal requirement we all have to comply with, and you should know that by now.

 

[GoldfishLord]

The source is the same as in post # 1.

Beyond the Three R's

archive.nytimes.com

 

[GoldfishLord]

In future, please give the complete sentence: And in this rarefied world, compounded of equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust, Howard Gardner, a Harvard psychologist, is first among equals.

Equal parts is a noun phrase, prepositional object of of. Compounded of equal parts ... is an adjectival phrase modifying the noun phrase rarefied world.

It would seem to me that the prepositional object of "of" is "moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust", not "equal parts".

What's the reason it is the other way around?

 

[jutfrank]

The object of of is the whole phrase 'equal parts moral philosophy, cognitive theory and chalk dust'.