November 13

Augustine of Hippo was an early Christian theologian and philosopher who served as the Bishop of Hippo Regius. He is best known for his influential works Confessions and The City of God. His writings on original sin, grace, and the relationship between church and state shaped Western Christian thought. Augustine’s integration of classical philosophy with Christian doctrine established the foundations of medieval theology. His legacy endures in both Catholic and Protestant traditions.

Born in Njeguši, Montenegro, Petar II Petrović-Njegoš became the Serbian Orthodox bishop and ruler of Montenegro at age nineteen. He enacted administrative and legal reforms to strengthen Montenegrin state institutions. Njegoš authored the epic poem 'The Mountain Wreath,' exploring themes of freedom, faith, and national identity. His writings combined Romanticism with deep philosophical and ethical reflections, influencing Balkan culture. Despite ongoing conflicts with the Ottoman Empire, he maintained autonomy and modernized military defenses. He fostered educational initiatives and cultural ties with Europe. Njegoš died in 1851 in Livorno, Italy, and is revered as a national hero and literary icon.

George Parkin Grant was born in 1918 and became one of Canada's most influential political philosophers. Educated at the University of Toronto and Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, he taught at Queen's University before returning to Toronto as a professor. His 1965 book "Lament for a Nation" critiqued North American liberalism and won the Governor General's Award, cementing his reputation. Grant wrote extensively on technology, tradition, and the challenges of modernity, arguing for a distinct Canadian identity. A fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he shaped Canadian intellectual life for over three decades. He passed away in 1988, leaving a profound legacy in political philosophy.

Born in Bay Shore, New York, Kripke displayed exceptional intelligence and entered university at age 17. His 1970 lectures, later published as 'Naming and Necessity', revolutionized the study of reference, modality, and identity. Kripke developed possible world semantics for modal logic, now known as Kripke frames. He held professorships at Princeton and Rutgers, mentoring generations of philosophers. His contributions earned him the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy in 2001. He passed away in 2022, leaving a profound legacy in analytic philosophy and logic.