July 31

A student of Wilhelm Dilthey and Georg Simmel, Freyer became a professor of sociology in the 1920s. He authored 'The Theory of Community,' exploring the relationship between individuals and society. Freyer initially supported National Socialism, believing it could revitalize German culture. He later distanced himself from the regime and continued his academic work after World War II. His theories on authority, mass society, and cultural decline remain studied in sociology and philosophy.

Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn (1909-1999) was an Austrian nobleman and political philosopher. His works critiqued mass democracy and totalitarian ideologies, championing individual liberty and constitutional monarchy. After fleeing Austria following the Anschluss, he taught at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He authored influential books such as 'Liberty or Equality' and 'The Menace of the Herd,' exploring the dangers of egalitarianism. Kuehnelt-Leddihn’s classical liberal ideas influenced post-war conservative and libertarian thinkers. He remained a prolific essayist and commentator until his death, leaving a lasting political legacy.

Hilary Putnam was a towering figure in 20th-century philosophy whose work bridged analytic philosophy and computer science. He introduced the concept of semantic externalism and contributed to theories of functionalism in the philosophy of mind. Putnam's famous "Twin Earth" thought experiment reshaped debates on meaning and reference. He held professorships at Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania, authoring influential works such as Reason, Truth and History. His ideas influenced disciplines ranging from cognitive science to metaphysics, earning him the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy.

John Searle (born 1932) is an American philosopher and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is renowned for his contributions to the philosophy of language, particularly speech act theory. Searle’s thought experiments, including the Chinese Room argument, have shaped debates in cognitive science. He has authored dozens of books and articles on mind, language, and social reality. His clear writing style and rigor have influenced generations of philosophers and linguists. Searle continues to teach and publish, remaining a central figure in contemporary philosophy.