Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer, best known for his foundational work in the development of utilitarianism—a moral philosophy that suggests that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility. Bentham introduced the principle of utility, which evaluates the moral worth of an action based on its consequences for the greatest number of people.
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) was an Argentine writer, poet, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century. His work often explored themes of infinity, parallel universes, labyrinths, and the nature of reality and identity. Borges is particularly known for his short stories, which blend literary criticism, philosophy, and fantastical elements, often challenging conventional narrative forms.
Karl Popper (1902–1994) was an influential philosopher of science and political philosopher, known primarily for his contributions to the philosophy of science and the philosophy of language. His most notable ideas include: 1. **Falsifiability**: Popper is famous for arguing that the demarcation between science and non-science should be based on the criterion of falsifiability. He asserted that scientific theories must be able to be tested and potentially disproven through observation and experimentation.
Laozi, also spelled Lao Tzu, is an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism (Daoism), a philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing living in accordance with the Tao (Dao), which is often translated as "the Way." Laozi is traditionally believed to have lived during the 6th century BCE, although some scholars suggest he may have lived later.
Michael Polanyi (1891-1976) was a Hungarian-British polymath known for his contributions to several fields, including physical chemistry, philosophy of science, and economics. Initially trained as a chemist, he made significant contributions to the understanding of chemical bonding and the molecular structure of materials. Later in life, Polanyi turned his focus to philosophy and social sciences, where he explored the nature of scientific knowledge and the process of discovery.
Michel Onfray is a French philosopher, author, and essayist known for his work in the fields of philosophy, ethics, and political theory. He was born on January 1, 1959, in Normandy, France. Onfray is often associated with hedonistic and atheistic philosophies and has been a vocal critic of traditional religious and philosophical systems, particularly dogmatic forms of thought.
Peter Godfrey-Smith is a philosopher and a professor, known for his work in the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of biology. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of consciousness, evolution, and the nature of life. Godfrey-Smith has also written on the implications of marine biology and cephalopod intelligence, particularly in his book "Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness.
Baron d'Holbach, whose full name was Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach (1723–1789), was a French philosopher, encyclopedist, and prominent figure of the Enlightenment. He is best known for his atheistic and materialistic views, as well as his criticism of religion.
Bonifaty Kedrov is not widely recognized in popular culture, literature, or common historical references as of my last knowledge update in October 2023. It’s possible that the name might refer to a less well-known individual, a fictional character, or a term that emerged after my last update.
Nicolas Malebranche (1638–1715) was a French philosopher and theologian who is best known for his work in the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind. He is often associated with the Cartesian tradition, having been influenced by the ideas of René Descartes, but he also developed his own distinctive views.
Peggy DesAutels is an American philosopher known for her work in feminist philosophy, ethics, and social philosophy. She has contributed to discussions on topics such as the nature of moral responsibility, the significance of personal relationships in ethical considerations, and the intersection of gender and ethics. DesAutels has also published various papers and articles focusing on issues related to feminist theory and the implications of social justice.
Theodor Lipps (1851–1914) was a German philosopher and psychologist known for his contributions to aesthetics, psychology, and the philosophy of art. He is often associated with the development of empathy (Einfühlung) as a psychological concept. Lipps argued that empathy is a key mechanism through which we understand and appreciate art, as it allows individuals to project themselves into the experiences and emotions of others.
Valerie G. Hardcastle is a philosopher and cognitive scientist known for her work in the areas of philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience, and the philosophy of psychology. She has made significant contributions to debates regarding the relationship between the mind and body, consciousness, and the implications of neuroscience for philosophical inquiries. Hardcastle often emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to address complex questions about human cognition and behavior.
Philosophy of medicine is a subfield of philosophy that explores the conceptual, theoretical, and ethical issues arising within the practice and study of medicine. It examines the foundations, principles, and implications of medical knowledge and practice, addressing questions related to the nature of health and disease, the ethics of medical interventions, the role of medical professionals, and the impact of medical technologies.
Philosophy of physics is a subfield of philosophy that examines the foundational, conceptual, and interpretative issues arising in the physical sciences. It seeks to understand the implications and meanings of physical theories and concepts, often engaging with topics at the intersection of physics and philosophy.
Philosophy of social science is a branch of philosophy that examines the foundations, methods, and implications of the social sciences. It seeks to understand the nature of social phenomena, the processes of social inquiry, and the epistemological and ethical questions that arise in studying human behavior and societies.
András Kertész (born 2 March 1978) is a Hungarian-born philosopher primarily known for his contributions to the fields of ontology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language. He has engaged with various philosophical traditions and has written extensively on topics such as existentialism, phenomenology, and the nature of reality. He has become notable in the academic community for his innovative approaches and thought-provoking ideas.
Cotton Mather (1663–1728) was a New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer known for his significant influence in early American religious and social life. He was a key figure during the Salem witch trials and played a notable role in promoting the trials, though he later expressed regret about the events. Mather was the son of Increase Mather, another prominent Puritan minister, and he held a degree from Harvard College.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





