September 18

Francis Herbert Bradley was born in 1846 in Scarborough, England. He studied at Balliol College, Oxford, and later became a fellow and tutor there. Bradley's major work, 'Appearance and Reality' (1893), challenged empiricist and materialist views. He argued that ultimate reality is an absolute, undivided whole beyond sensory appearances. His systematic metaphysics influenced British idealism and shaped early 20th-century philosophy. Bradley also wrote on ethics and religion, defending a holistic vision of moral life. He passed away in 1924, leaving a lasting impact on Western philosophical thought.

Volin was born Vsevolod Eikhenbaum in 1882 in Vitebsk, Russian Empire. He became a leading theorist in the anarchist movement during the early 20th century. Volin fought in the 1905 and 1917 revolutions and served as Commissar of Education in the Free Territory of Ukraine. His major works, including 'The Unknown Revolution', documented anarchist principles and critiques of Bolshevism. After exile in France, he continued to produce essays and memoirs on anarchism and Soviet repression. Throughout his life, Volin advocated for direct democracy and workers’ self-management. He passed away in 1945, leaving a substantial body of anarchist literature.

Paul Bernays was born in 1888 in London and later established his career in Switzerland, where he became a key figure in the development of modern logic. He collaborated closely with David Hilbert on the landmark two-volume work 'Grundlagen der Mathematik,' which set rigorous axiomatic foundations for mathematics. Bernays contributed to the formal theory of sets, introducing important concepts in ordinal arithmetic and transfinite induction. His work bridged technical mathematics and philosophical inquiry, reflecting his dual interests in logic and the philosophy of mathematics. Bernays taught at the University of Zurich and influenced generations of mathematicians and philosophers. He remained active in research and writing until his death in 1977, leaving a profound legacy in mathematical logic.

Emil L. Fackenheim (February 16, 1916 – September 18, 2003) was a Jewish philosopher and theologian who survived the Holocaust and became a leading voice in post-war Jewish thought. Appointed a rabbi in Canada, he taught philosophy at the University of Toronto, exploring the theological implications of the Shoah. Fackenheim articulated the '614th commandment,' urging Jews to survive as a defiance against Nazi genocide. His writings, such as 'To Mend the World,' examined faith, history, and morality in the aftermath of atrocity. His scholarship helped shape modern Holocaust theology and interfaith dialogue.