September 21

Mario Bunge was a distinguished Argentinian-Canadian philosopher and physicist known for his rigorous approach to the philosophy of science. Born in Buenos Aires, he earned his doctorate in physics before shifting his focus to systematic philosophical analysis. He authored landmark works such as 'The Scientific Image' and 'Treatise on Basic Philosophy', advocating for scientific realism. Throughout his career, he addressed topics in ontology, epistemology, and social philosophy with mathematical precision. He held academic posts at institutions including McGill University and mentored generations of scholars. Bunge's contributions spanned physics, mathematics, ethics, and political theory, earning him numerous international honors.

Fazlur Rahman Malik was a leading Islamic philosopher and scholar who championed contextual reinterpretation of the Quran. Educated at Oxford and McGill University, he served as a professor at the University of Chicago. He authored seminal works like 'Islamic Methodology' and 'Islam and Modernity', emphasizing reason and historical analysis. Rahman argued for ijtihad, the use of independent reasoning in Islamic law, to reconcile faith with modern challenges. His progressive views influenced generations of Islamic thinkers and promoted interfaith dialogue. He lectured worldwide, leaving a legacy as a bridge between Islamic tradition and contemporary thought.

Bernard Williams was born in London and studied at University College Oxford before teaching at Cambridge and Berkeley. A towering figure in 20th-century philosophy, he challenged prevailing ethical theories and reignited debates on moral psychology. His seminal works, such as 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' and 'Shame and Necessity,' remain foundational texts. Williams explored themes of moral luck, integrity, and the complexities of human motivation. His incisive writing and teaching shaped generations of philosophers and deepened understandings of moral life.

Born Swami Agnivesh in 1939, he joined the Arya Samaj and later founded the Bonded Labour Liberation Front to fight forced labor and caste oppression. A scholar of social philosophy, Agnivesh taught at universities in India and abroad, promoting human rights and interfaith dialogue. He briefly served as a Rajya Sabha member representing Haryana, using his political platform to advance social justice. Throughout his life, he led movements against child labor, bonded labor, and the dowry system, earning national and international recognition. Agnivesh's legacy endures through his writings and the continued work of the NGOs he inspired.