February 02

Alfred Delp was born in Mannheim in 1907 and joined the Jesuit order at a young age. A gifted philosopher and theologian, he taught ethics and social philosophy in Germany and the Netherlands. Delp became a key member of the Kreisau Circle, a resistance group opposing the Nazi regime through moral and Christian principles. Arrested in the aftermath of the July 20 plot in 1944, he endured harsh imprisonment and interrogation by the Gestapo. Despite torture, Delp maintained his faith and composed spiritual writings reflecting hope and compassion under oppression. He was executed by hanging in February 1945, just months before the end of World War II. Delp’s letters and sermons were posthumously published, inspiring generations with his courage and theological insights.

Bertrand Russell co-authored Principia Mathematica, laying foundations for modern logic and analytic philosophy. He introduced Russell's paradox and developed the theory of descriptions, influencing the study of language and logic. In 1950, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals. Russell was a vocal social critic and peace activist, speaking out against war and nuclear weapons. He authored over 70 books covering philosophy, politics, and social issues, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. His intellectual legacy continues to shape philosophy, mathematics, and contemporary political thought.

Imre Lakatos developed the concept of research programmes to explain scientific progress and theory change. He critiqued both Popper's falsificationism and Kuhn's paradigms, advocating a more flexible methodology. Lakatos fled Hungary after the 1956 revolution and continued his work at the London School of Economics. He wrote key papers, including Proofs and Refutations, which examine the philosophy of mathematics. Lakatos's ideas reshaped debates in philosophy of science and influenced generations of scholars. His work remains central to understanding the structure and development of scientific theories.