The philosopher who saw life as “nasty, brutish, and short” but gave us the social contract to make it bearable.

The historian whose narratives of Scotland and the Americas offered a grand view of human progress.

The father of international law, whose work laid the foundation for a more just and orderly world. His On the Law of War and Peace revealed the rational basis for peace and prosperity in a community, a country, and the world.

The father of international law, whose work laid the foundation for a more just and orderly world. His On the “Law of War and Peace” revealed the rational basis for peace and prosperity in a community, a country, and the world.

The philosopher who believed in the goodness of man and the corrupting influence of society; he inspired revolutions with his radical ideas.

The statesman and philosopher who blended political theory with practical wisdom, advocating for a balanced constitution.

The father of the scientific method who urged us to think empirically and systematically; knowledge truly is power. He wrote of an imaginary republic that inspired the Founders.

The Welsh moral philosopher and mathematician who championed liberty, reason, and social progress in equal measure. He argued that education is the key to freedom and that ignorance paves the way for tyranny and slavery.

The Bard whose plays and sonnets captured the human condition in all its glory and folly; his influence transcends time.

The Roman historian whose tales of early Rome blended myth and fact into an epic narrative that is more captivating than any adventure series written today.