July 08

Ernst Bloch was born in Ludwigshafen in 1885 and studied at the universities of Munich, Berlin, and Heidelberg. His groundbreaking book "The Principle of Hope" explored human utopian impulses and had a lasting impact on critical theory and the Frankfurt School. Bloch taught at various European universities and his writings spanned philosophy, theology, and aesthetics. He fled Nazi Germany and continued his scholarship in Switzerland before returning to East Germany after World War II. A prolific writer, he sought to bridge Marxist thought with existential and utopian philosophy. Bloch's ideas influenced thinkers across disciplines until his death in 1977.

David Malet Armstrong (1926–2014) was an Australian philosopher celebrated for his rigorous defense of metaphysical realism. He argued for the existence of universals and states of affairs, challenging prevailing nominalist views. Armstrong’s materialist theory of mind and theory of mental causation advanced the philosophy of mind. His major works include “A Materialist Theory of the Mind” and “Universals: An Opinionated Introduction.” As a professor at the Australian National University, he influenced generations of students and scholars. Armstrong’s clear prose and systematic approach earned him recognition as a leading philosopher of the 20th century.