September 08

Born in 1606 in Madrid, Caramuel joined the Premonstratensian order and studied canon law and theology. He published influential works on logic, such as his Logica, and pioneered the use of mathematical notation in philosophy. His ethical treatises addressed moral dilemmas with scholastic rigor, while his interest in decimals foreshadowed modern mathematics. Caramuel taught at universities across Spain and Italy, shaping both religious and secular scholarship. He contributed ideas to early probability theory and defended the use of analytical methods in theology. Caramuel’s interdisciplinary scholarship bridged mathematics, philosophy, and theology in the 17th century.

Born in 1897 in Bombay, Nisargadatta Maharaj worked as a small shopkeeper before his spiritual awakening. Following the guidance of his guru, he began teaching Advaita Vedanta in the 1950s. His dialogues were compiled in the best-selling book I Am That, which brought his teachings to a global audience. Maharaj emphasized self-inquiry and the realization of one's true nature beyond the ego. He attracted students worldwide, influencing modern spiritual thought and practice. He passed away in 1981, remembered as a major figure in 20th-century philosophy and spirituality.

Born in 1937, Ronald Hamowy specialized in intellectual history and the study of liberalism. He served as a professor at the University of Calgary and later at the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California. Hamowy was a founding editor of the Cato Journal and advisor to the Cato Institute, promoting free-market ideas. He authored and edited numerous works on the history of individual liberty and government intervention. His scholarship helped shape modern libertarian philosophy until his death in 2012.

Thomas Szasz earned his medical degree in the United States and became a professor of psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He challenged mainstream psychiatry by arguing that mental illness is a social construct rather than a medical disease. In 1961, he published 'The Myth of Mental Illness', a landmark work that sparked debate on patient rights and coercive treatment. Szasz wrote over 30 books on psychology, ethics, and law, influencing psychiatry, philosophy, and public policy. He remained an active lecturer and writer until his death in 2012, leaving a provocative legacy in mental health discourse.