July 04

Hermann Cohen was a central figure in the Neo-Kantian movement, establishing the Marburg School at the University of Marburg. His seminal work, Kant’s Theory of Experience, reexamined Immanuel Kant’s epistemology and emphasized the role of logic and science in philosophical inquiry. Cohen extended Kantian ethics, arguing for the moral imperative inherent in rational thought. He also engaged deeply with Jewish theology, integrating philosophical rigor with religious themes. His teaching influenced philosophers such as Paul Natorp and Ernst Cassirer. Cohen’s contributions left a lasting impact on modern philosophy, theology, and the study of rationality.

Victor Kraft studied under Moritz Schlick and became a key figure in the Vienna Circle, a movement dedicated to logical positivism. He contributed to the analysis of scientific methodology and the critique of metaphysics, emphasizing clarity and empirical grounding. Kraft's historical research shed light on pre-Socratic thought and the evolution of philosophical concepts. After fleeing Austria during World War II, he lectured in London before returning to Vienna to continue his academic work. His writings bridged analytic philosophy and historical scholarship, influencing generations of philosophers.

Born in Belgrade in 1937 and raised in the United States, Thomas Nagel earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University. He has taught at Princeton, Cornell, and New York University, where he is University Professor Emeritus. Nagel’s groundbreaking essay “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” challenged reductionist views of consciousness. His books such as The View from Nowhere and Mortal Questions explore subjectivity, objectivity, and moral philosophy. A prominent critic of materialist accounts of the mind, he has influenced debates on free will and political justice. Nagel’s clear prose and rigorous arguments have made him one of the most cited philosophers of his generation.