July 11

Born in 1325 in Normandy, Nicole Oresme served as Bishop of Lisieux and was a leading intellectual of the 14th century. He introduced graphical methods that prefigured coordinate geometry in his studies of motion and is considered a forerunner of classical mechanics. Oresme wrote influential treatises on currency, advocating for stable monetary policies and criticizing inflationary practices. His translations of Aristotle’s works into French made philosophical texts accessible to a broader audience. He also engaged in political thought, advising King Charles V of France. Oresme’s interdisciplinary contributions in science and philosophy left a lasting legacy in European scholarship.

Yevgeny Baratynsky was born in 1800 into a noble Russian family deeply interested in literature and philosophy. He became one of the foremost poets of the Russian Golden Age, admired for his complex and reflective style. Baratynsky's poetry explored themes of nature, existential inquiry, and the human condition. Although celebrated by contemporaries like Pushkin, he often struggled with self-doubt and health issues. His work, blending philosophical depth with poetic elegance, influenced later Russian Symbolists. Baratynsky's legacy endures through his lyrical exploration of mind and soul.

Panagiotis Kondylis (1943-1998) was a prolific Greek philosopher and historian of ideas. He wrote extensively on the history and theory of political concepts such as power and democracy. His works bridged classical political thought and contemporary social theory. He authored over 15 books in Greek and German, influencing European philosophical discourse. Kondylis also explored the roots of modernity and the dynamics of ideological change. His incisive analyses continue to be studied by scholars of philosophy and political science.