Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who is a central figure in modern philosophy. He argued that the human mind creates the structure of human experience, that reason is the source of morality, that aesthetics arises from a faculty of disinterested judgment, and that space and time are forms of our understanding. 1. “Critique of … Read more
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian author and one of the greatest novelists of all time. His works are distinguished by his exploration of human experience and emotion on a large scale, and his novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” are considered landmarks of realist fiction. 1. “War and Peace” (1869) In a Nutshell: An … Read more
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher best known for his work in political and social philosophy. His ideas, expressed in his masterpiece “Leviathan,” revolve around social contract theory and the necessity of a strong central authority. He viewed the natural state of mankind as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” and believed that a powerful … Read more
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist. He’s known for his exploration of human psychology in the context of the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century Russia. His works often feature characters who must grapple with existential and moral dilemmas. 1. “Crime and Punishment” (1866) In a … Read more
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist, and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture, and politics extended from the 1880s to his death and beyond. He wrote more than sixty plays, including major works such as “Man and Superman” (1902), “Pygmalion” (1912) and “Saint Joan” (1923). He was … Read more
Hannah Arendt (1906-1975): A German-born American political theorist whose works deal with the nature of power, authority, and the origins of totalitarianism. Her explorations of these topics, as well as her studies of the nature of evil, have solidified her position as one of the most influential political thinkers of the 20th century. 1. “The … Read more
Edward Said (1935-2003): A Palestinian American literary theorist and public intellectual who helped found the critical-theory field of postcolonialism. Said is best known for his analysis of the cultural representations that are the bases of Orientalism, a term he redefined to mean the Western study and depiction of Eastern societies, which he discusses extensively in … Read more
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860): A German philosopher best known for his work “The World as Will and Representation”. Schopenhauer’s philosophy is known for its pessimistic views and was heavily influenced by the works of Immanuel Kant. He emphasized the role of man’s basic motivation based on their desires, fears, and passions. His thought profoundly influenced psychology, … Read more
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940): A German Jewish philosopher, cultural critic, and essayist. Benjamin’s diverse body of work includes commentaries on literary and philosophical texts, fragments on the philosophy of history and linguistics, reflections on aesthetics, arts, and literature. His writings integrate elements of Marxism, German idealism, and Jewish mysticism. 1. “Illuminations” (1955): This is a collection … Read more
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986): A French writer, philosopher, feminist, and social theorist, de Beauvoir is known for her significant contributions to feminist existentialism and feminist theory. She authored many novels, essays, biographies, and an autobiography, offering insights into her philosophy on freedom, oppression, and the construction of gender. 1. The Second Sex (1949): Considered a … Read more