August 08

Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) was a pioneering Irish philosopher and professor at the University of Glasgow. He argued that humans possess an innate moral sense that guides judgments of right and wrong, influencing modern ethical theory. His major works, including 'An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue,' combined moral philosophy with aesthetics. Hutcheson's lectures attracted students like Adam Smith and David Hume, shaping their views on human nature and society. He emphasized benevolence and empathy as foundational virtues, challenging prevailing moral doctrines. His ideas continued to inspire Enlightenment thinkers long after his death.

Born in 1797, Immanuel Hermann Fichte was the son of the philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte and emerged as a leading figure in German idealism. He held professorships at the universities of Berlin, Erlangen, and Göttingen, where he taught metaphysics and philosophy. Fichte wrote extensively on the nature of consciousness, ethics, and the philosophy of religion, seeking to refine his father's transcendental philosophy. His works, such as 'The German Idealism' and 'The Way to Philosophy,' offered rigorous analyses of human freedom and moral responsibility. Fichte's academic career influenced generations of scholars before his death in 1879.