Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a German philosopher whose works critique the entire philosophical tradition up to this point, and provocatively call for a reaffirmation of life that has been sacrificed for the sake of abstract knowledge. Often considered the first existentialist philosopher who proclaimed "the death of God," his work was largely ignored during his lifetime but had an incalculable influence on modern politics, philosophy, psychology, and culture, including its many appropriations by both right-wing and left-wing movements.

Ulrich Baer holds degrees from Harvard and Yale University, and is University Professor at New York University. He has translated texts by Rainer Maria Rilke, Hannah Arendt, and others, and published numerous books on literature, photography, and culture.

Martin Buber (1878-1965) was an enormously prolific moral philosopher whose work examines Hasidism, scripture, and dialogic thinking. His best-known work is I and Thou.