April 24

Tran Duc Thao was a Vietnamese philosopher born in 1917 who played a central role in bringing Western philosophical traditions to Vietnam. Educated in France, he wrote his doctoral thesis on Spinoza before turning to Marxist dialectics and Hegelian philosophy. Thao’s works offered critical analyses of historical materialism and contributed to ideological debates during Vietnam’s revolutionary period. As a professor and theorist, he influenced intellectual discourse on ethics, society, and politics within the newly formed Democratic Republic of Vietnam. His writings emphasized the integration of Marxist theory with local cultural contexts, shaping the development of Vietnamese socialist thought. Despite political challenges, Thao remained a respected academic figure until his later years. He passed away on April 24, 1993, remembered for his scholarly rigor and philosophical insight.

Robert Pirsig gained worldwide acclaim with the 1974 publication of 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,' a philosophical exploration framed as a cross-country motorcycle journey. Born in Minneapolis in 1928, he combined narrative storytelling with deep reflections on quality, life, and the human mind. The book became a cult classic, sparking discussions across literary and academic circles. Pirsig’s follow-up work, 'Lila: An Inquiry into Morals,' further developed his metaphysical ideas. Despite personal battles with mental health, he continued to write and lecture on philosophy. He passed away in 2017, leaving a lasting impact on modern philosophical thought.