October 15

Born in Poitiers in 1626, Cordemoy initially trained in law before pursuing philosophical inquiry and historical research. He served as counsel to the Parlement of Paris, where his legal expertise informed his reflections on justice and governance. Engaging with Cartesian thought, he explored the nature of substance, perception, and the human mind in his philosophical treatises. As a historian, he authored accounts tracing the evolution of European states and legal institutions based on archival evidence. Cordemoy's interdisciplinary approach influenced Enlightenment thinkers by uniting empirical scholarship with metaphysical questions. He died in 1684, leaving a diverse body of work that continued to shape French intellectual life.

Sarah Kofman was born in 1934 in Paris to Jewish parents who were victims of the Holocaust. She studied philosophy under Jean Hyppolite and later earned her doctorate at the École Normale Supérieure, focusing on Friedrich Nietzsche. Kofman's work combined existentialist and psychoanalytic approaches to explore themes of subjectivity, language, and the body. She published influential essays on women in Freud's writings, challenging patriarchal readings of psychoanalysis. A gifted lecturer, she taught at the University of Paris VIII and inspired students with her rigorous yet poetic prose. Kofman's scholarship shed light on the intersections of philosophy, literature, and feminist theory. She died by suicide in 1994, leaving behind a powerful body of work that continues to resonate in contemporary philosophy.

Giovanni Reale (1931–2014) was an Italian scholar whose extensive research on ancient Greek philosophy reshaped modern understanding of Plato and Aristotle. Holding professorships at prestigious universities, he authored seminal texts that combined rigorous philological analysis with clear, accessible writing. Reale's multi-volume history of philosophy became a reference for students and experts worldwide. His studies illuminated the social and historical context of classical thinkers, bridging the gap between antiquity and contemporary thought. Celebrated for his scholarly depth and pedagogical skill, Reale guided generations of philosophers and historians in exploring the roots of Western thought.