Charles Taylor is a Canadian philosopher and emeritus professor at McGill University in Montreal. Born on November 5, 1931, Taylor is best known for his contributions to political philosophy, the philosophy of social science, history of philosophy, and intellectual history. He has made significant contributions to debates on the nature of the self, identity, multiculturalism, secularism, and the role of religion in society. Taylor's work spans a wide range of topics, but he is particularly well-known for his influential books "Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity," which traces the development of the modern concept of identity, and "A Secular Age," which explores the cultural and intellectual shift from a time when it was virtually impossible not to believe in God to an era where faith is one option among others. He has been recognized for his scholarly work with numerous awards, including the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, the Templeton Prize, and the Kyoto Prize. Charles Taylor's work often reflects a deep engagement with the human condition and the moral issues of common life, drawing from both the analytic and continental philosophical traditions as well as from a variety of other disciplines.