February 04

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, was a prominent English nobleman, philosopher, and politician. He authored 'Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times', outlining his views on ethics, aesthetics, and human happiness. As a statesman, he served in the House of Commons and Lords, supporting philanthropic causes and moral legislation. He founded societies aiming at improving prisons, mental asylums, and child labor laws during the Enlightenment. His moral philosophy emphasized the harmony between virtue and happiness, influencing later thinkers. Shaftesbury's work bridged political action and philosophical inquiry, leaving a lasting impact on social reform.

Kostas Axelos (1924-2010) was a Greek-born French philosopher associated with existentialism and Marxism. He studied under Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty in post-war Paris. Axelos founded the journal Arguments in 1956, creating a platform for critical theory and dialogue. His seminal work "World, Play, and Games" examined the concept of play in culture and society. He developed the idea of "planetary play," blending playfulness with philosophical inquiry. Axelos taught at the Sorbonne and influenced a generation of European thinkers. His writings bridged Eastern and Western traditions, challenging conventional philosophical boundaries.