January 09

Karl Löwith was a prominent German philosopher whose work explored the relationship between existence and history. A student of Martin Heidegger, he critically examined the roots of modern historicism in works like Critique of Political Theology. His book Meaning in History provided a profound analysis of Western thought from Augustine to Nietzsche. Forced to emigrate due to his Jewish heritage, Löwith taught in Japan and the United States, bridging European philosophy with American academia. His writings on secularization and humanism influenced debates in philosophical anthropology and theology. Löwith’s clear prose and rigorous scholarship continue to inform contemporary philosophical discussions.

Born in 1908 in Paris, Simone de Beauvoir was a leading figure in existentialist philosophy and feminist thought. She studied at the Sorbonne alongside Jean-Paul Sartre, with whom she maintained a lifelong partnership. Her landmark work, The Second Sex (1949), is credited with laying the foundations for modern feminist theory. De Beauvoir also wrote novels, essays, and memoirs exploring themes of freedom, ethics, and gender. She taught philosophy, lectured internationally, and remained active in political causes until her death in 1986. Her intellectual legacy continues to influence philosophy and gender studies worldwide.