Allan Kardec (pseudonym of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail)

Allan Kardec, the pseudonym of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail, was a French educator and philosopher best known for founding Spiritism in the 19th century. He believed in the communication between the living and the spirits of the deceased, advocating for the study of spiritual phenomena through scientific methods. Kardec published key works, including "The Spirits' Book," which outlines his principles and teachings about the afterlife, morality, and the evolution of the spirit. His ideas challenged traditional religious views and established a framework for understanding spirituality through reason and observation, influencing many spiritualist movements worldwide.