February 17

Born on February 17, 1904, in Coburg, Germany, Hans Morgenthau fled the rise of Nazism and later became a leading figure in American political science. He joined the faculty at the University of Chicago and then at the University of Notre Dame, where he influenced generations of scholars. His landmark work, "Politics Among Nations," established the principles of political realism, emphasizing power, national interest, and the immutable aspects of human nature. Morgenthau argued that moral considerations must be balanced against the realities of state behavior. He also wrote extensively on legal philosophy and ethics, bridging political theory with practical policy analysis. Throughout his career, he advised government officials and contributed to postwar policy debates. Morgenthau passed away in 1980, leaving a profound legacy in the study of international affairs.