December 26

Born in 1536, Yi I (also known by his pen name Yulgok) emerged as a prodigy in Neo-Confucian studies. He passed the civil service examinations at a young age and served in high-ranking government positions. Yi I authored classics such as "Seongho sasang" and promoted practical reforms in agriculture and military organization. His works emphasized moral self-cultivation and statecraft. Despite political rivalries, his legacy endured as a cornerstone of Korean philosophy and education.

Born in 1618, Elisabeth was a daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, and niece of King Charles I of England. Exiled during the Thirty Years' War, she developed a deep interest in philosophy and theology. Her letters to René Descartes challenged his dualist notions and articulated early ideas on the mind-body relationship. Elisabeth's critical questions influenced Cartesian thought and earned her respect among European intellectuals. She spent much of her life in The Hague, engaging with scholarly circles until her death in 1680.

Jean François de Saint-Lambert was born in 1716 and served as an officer in the French army during the Seven Years' War. He became part of the vibrant intellectual circle of Enlightenment thinkers in Paris, including Voltaire and Rousseau. Saint-Lambert's most notable literary work, the philosophical poem 'Les Saisons', explored nature and human emotion. His writings bridged the gap between military discipline and reflective scholarship, earning him respect in both fields. After his military service, he devoted himself to philosophical essays and poetry until his death in 1803. He remains a symbol of the multifaceted spirit of the French Enlightenment.