September 14

Nikolai Bugaev was a professor at Moscow University where he established a rigorous approach to mathematical analysis, focusing on discontinuous functions and the foundations of calculus. His interest in philosophy led him to explore the relationship between mathematics and metaphysics, influencing early Russian philosophical circles. Bugaev mentored future luminaries including Dmitri Egorov and Nikolai Luzin, shaping the Moscow School of mathematics. He published works on algebraic equations and contributed to the development of set theory in Russia. His blend of mathematical rigor and philosophical inquiry left a lasting mark on both disciplines. Bugaev died in 1903, remembered as a pioneer of Russian mathematical thought.

Anton Mahnič was born in 1850 in present-day Slovenia and ordained a priest in 1876. He was appointed bishop of Krk in 1896, where he championed Catholic Action and defended the Church against modernist ideologies. A prolific writer, he founded influential Catholic journals and published works on philosophy and theology. His efforts helped shape Catholic discourse across the Austro-Hungarian Empire and beyond. Mahnič argued for the integration of faith within modern society, leaving a lasting intellectual legacy. He remained an active leader until his death in 1920, remembered as a key figure in Central European religious thought.

Allan Bloom earned his doctorate under Leo Strauss and became a prominent professor of political philosophy. In 1987 he published 'The Closing of the American Mind,' a best-selling critique of higher education and cultural relativism. Bloom argued that universities had abandoned the pursuit of truth and moral standards, sparking intense debate across campuses. His translations of Plato’s works and essays on Shakespeare and Nietzsche further solidified his reputation as a rigorous thinker. Bloom’s blend of classical scholarship and cultural commentary influenced both conservative and liberal intellectual circles until his death in 1992.

Sarah Kofman studied at the École Normale Supérieure under thinkers such as Jacques Derrida and Jacques Lacan, emerging as a distinctive voice in French philosophy. She authored seminal books on Friedrich Nietzsche, exploring themes of identity, metaphor, and power. Kofman also delved into psychoanalysis, publishing essays that bridged philosophical inquiry with Freudian theory. In works like 'The Enigma of Woman', she examined the intersections of gender and philosophy. Despite her academic success, Kofman's life was marked by the trauma of her childhood during World War II, which informed much of her later scholarship. Her bold, incisive writing has continued to influence feminist theory and continental philosophy.