Profession: philosopher

Hölderlin and Schelling were progressively like-minded fellow-students with whom he roomed and drank. Niethammer was probably, after Schelling, his most loyal friend. All three helped him find employment (though Schelling grew embittered by his success.) He cultivated the influential Goethe’s friendship, visited the exiled mathematician Carnot, and discussed Shakespeare with Tieck (who was unimpressed.) Fichte and the Schlegels were among the galaxy encountered in Jena. In Berlin, he taught the poet Heine and the engineer Roebling, and attended Fanny Mendelssohn’s celebrated musical events.

Goodman taught him first — they later became Harvard colleagues. Carnap and Reichenbach also taught him, Reichenbach supervising his doctorate, while Quine became his mentor and collaborator. Rorty, like Quine another Harvard colleague, also influenced him: Putnam was a friendly critic of Rorty — they had a famous extended debate about pragmatism. He authored a mathematical paper with Smullyan, and visited the university (free of Italian state regulations) Eco ran in San Marino.

Pareyson taught Vattimo, and his fellow-student Eco: Vattimo later succeeded Pareyson in his professorship. Gadamer also taught him, at least as influentially, in Heidelberg. Derrida collaborated with him on questions of religion; so, separately, did Rorty.

She studied with Heidegger, and had a complicated affair with him (she called him sly and dishonest, but later testified for him in denazification hearings). In Paris, she attended Kojève’s Hegel seminars, and met Aron and Benjamin (a strong influence). Jaspers supervised her doctoral thesis, and became a close friend for life. In the U.S., 3 years’ frostiness preceded a lifelong friendship with McCarthy. Ricoeur met her at Tillich’s, Hochhuth discussed his play with her, Scholem corresponded. In an odd episode, Spender seemingly put the drunken Auden (a close friend) up to proposing to her; she wept at his death.

Bachelard supervised Althusser’s doctoral thesis (though doubt has been expressed as to whether Bachelard could have read it that closely, given its shortcomings). He said his debt to Canguilhem was incalculable. He helped Lacan with his lectures — they had a complex personal and professional relationship, sometimes friends, sometimes foes. He taught Foucault, who remained a friend, and Derrida, who became particularly close (and was the only visitor he was allowed when he was incarcerated after strangling his wife). Macherey (who collaborated on a significant book), Serres and Miller were also among his students.