January 04

Born in Dessau in 1729, Moses Mendelssohn studied both Talmudic texts and secular philosophy. He became a central figure of the Haskalah, advocating for the integration of Jewish communities into European society. Mendelssohn engaged in correspondence with Christian thinkers and formed a lifelong friendship with Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. He authored 'Phädon' on the immortality of the soul and 'Jerusalem' on the nature of religious belief. His writings bridged Jewish tradition and Enlightenment ideals, promoting educational reform and dialogue. Mendelssohn’s legacy continues to influence both Jewish and secular philosophical thought.

Born in Paris in 1859, Bergson studied at the École Normale Supérieure and later taught at the Collège de France. He developed groundbreaking theories on time, consciousness, and creativity, challenging mechanistic views of reality. His major works, including 'Time and Free Will' and 'Creative Evolution,' earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927. Bergson’s emphasis on intuition over intellect shaped debates in philosophy, psychology, and the arts. His ideas resonated across Europe and America, leaving a profound legacy in modern intellectual history.

Albert Camus was a French-Algerian writer, philosopher, and journalist born in 1913. He emerged as a leading voice in 20th-century existentialism and absurdist thought. Camus's works, including 'The Stranger' and 'The Myth of Sisyphus,' examine the human condition and the search for meaning. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957 for his insightful writings and ethical commitment. Throughout his career, Camus also wrote essays on morality, politics, and social justice. He worked as a journalist and co-founded the resistance newspaper 'Combat' during World War II. Camus died in a car accident on January 4, 1960, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy.