Ernst Bloch was a German philosopher who is best known for his work in the fields of political philosophy, aesthetics, and Marxist thought. He was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany in 1885 and died in 1977. His most famous works include The Principle of Hope, The Spirit of Utopia, and Atheism in Christianity. Bloch's philosophical works were heavily influenced by the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th century German philosophy.