September 10

Charles Sanders Peirce was a multifaceted American philosopher, logician, and mathematician whose work laid the foundations for pragmatism and semiotics. He introduced the pragmatic maxim to assess the meaning of ideas through their practical effects. As a pioneering logician, he made significant advances in symbolic logic and the logic of relations. Peirce also contributed to probability theory and the scientific method, emphasizing inquiry and fallibilism. Though underappreciated in his lifetime, his interdisciplinary influence now extends across philosophy, linguistics, and computer science.

Georges Bataille was born in 1897 in Billom, France, and became a leading figure in 20th-century French thought. He wrote extensively on themes of eroticism, death, and the sacred, challenging conventional moral and philosophical boundaries. His key works include Story of the Eye, The Accursed Share, and Inner Experience, blending literature, philosophy, and anthropology. Bataille founded the journal Critique and influenced intellectual movements such as surrealism and post-structuralism. His concept of the “forbidden” and excess left a profound mark on continental philosophy. He died in 1962, and his writings continue to inspire critical theory and avant-garde art.

Born in New York City in 1904, Max Shachtman became a prominent Marxist intellectual in the 1930s. He initially joined the Trotskyist movement but eventually broke away to form the Workers Party, advocating a Third Camp socialist perspective independent of the USSR and Western democracies. Shachtman's writings on bureaucratic collectivism and critiques of Stalinism influenced leftist thought throughout the mid-20th century. He was an associate editor of the New International and taught political theory at various colleges. A charismatic organizer, he engaged in debates on labor rights and civil liberties. Shachtman passed away in 1972, leaving a legacy as a critical voice on socialism and democracy.

Jean Vanier (1928–2019) was a Canadian philosopher and humanitarian who founded L'Arche, a global network of communities for people with intellectual disabilities. His work challenged societal attitudes and promoted empathy, dignity, and solidarity with the vulnerable. Vanier authored influential books on faith, community, and the human condition, blending philosophical insight with practical compassion. He traveled internationally to speak on the importance of inclusive communities and the value of every person. His legacy continues through the ongoing work of L'Arche communities worldwide.

A Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Coakley pioneered work at the intersection of theology, philosophy, and gender studies. Her influential books, such as "God, Sexuality, and the Self", explore desire, embodiment, and divine-human relations. Coakley has held professorships at institutions including Harvard Divinity School and the University of Cambridge. Her interdisciplinary approach draws on analytical philosophy, patristics, and political theology to address modern ethical challenges. Recognized for her rigorous scholarship, she has served on editorial boards and received honors for theological innovation. Coakley remains a leading voice in feminist theology and philosophical theology, shaping debates across the humanities.