April 26

Thomas Reid was a leading Scottish philosopher of the 18th century who founded the Scottish School of Common Sense. His work challenged the skeptical arguments of David Hume and laid the foundation for modern common sense realism. Reid's major works include 'An Inquiry into the Human Mind' and 'Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man.' He held professorships at the universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen and influenced both philosophy and theology. His ideas shaped the development of epistemology and ethics by emphasizing the reliability of everyday perception. Reid's legacy endures in contemporary philosophical debates about realism and perception.

Ludwig Wittgenstein was born in Vienna in 1889 into a prominent industrialist family. He wrote the 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus' as a young man, influencing the Vienna Circle and logical positivism. After serving in World War I, he returned to academic life and developed the concept of language games in 'Philosophical Investigations.' He taught at Cambridge University, mentoring a generation of philosophers and revolutionizing the study of meaning. Wittgenstein's rigorous analysis of language and mind continues to impact philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science.

Israr Ahmed was a leading Pakistani Islamic scholar who founded the Tanzeem-e-Islami movement in 1975, advocating for a comprehensive revival of Islamic values. He earned a reputation for his in-depth Quranic commentary (Tafsir) series, which reached audiences throughout South Asia via television and radio. Born in India in 1932, he migrated to Pakistan after partition and later served as a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Karachi. He emphasized practical spirituality and social justice in his teachings. Ahmed's works influenced a generation of Muslim thinkers until his death in 2010.