July 09

Edmund Burke was an influential Irish-English philosopher, statesman, and Member of Parliament in the 18th century. Born in Dublin in 1729, he gained acclaim for his insightful speeches and essays on politics and aesthetics. He supported the American colonies' grievances against British taxation while condemning the excesses of the French Revolution in his seminal work 'Reflections on the Revolution in France.' Burke's ideas laid the groundwork for modern conservatism, emphasizing tradition, moderation, and the rule of law. A noted patron of the arts, he also authored 'A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful.' His eloquence and intellectual rigor left a lasting mark on political theory and practice.

Born in 1897, Georges Bataille emerged as a leading figure in 20th-century French thought, founding the journal Critique in 1946. His interdisciplinary work spanned philosophy, literature, and anthropology, focusing on themes of eroticism, death, and excess. Major works such as The Story of the Eye, Literature and Evil, and The Accursed Share challenged traditional morality and introduced the concept of 'base materialism'. Bataille’s ideas influenced surrealists, existentialists, and post-structuralists, leaving an indelible mark on modern intellectual history. He died in 1962, remembered for his provocative and boundary-pushing writings.