17 Most Famous French Philosophers Whose Ideas Still Influence The World
Want to learn more about famous French philosophers whose works shaped the world? From Voltaire to Simone de Beauvoir, here are the French philosophers you should know!
When we think of France, we associate it with the Eiffel Tower, love, lights, wine, and croissants, which is all true, but did you know that France is also home to some of the most influential philosophers in history?
From the Age of Enlightenment to the Existentialist movement, French philosophy has played a significant role in how we think about the world today.
Portrait of Simone de Beauvoir Via Wiki commons
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To help you discover who those intelligent people are, here is a list of the 17 most famous French philosophers and their contributions to philosophy.
Whether you’re a philosophy student or simply curious, exploring the works of these philosophers is a worthwhile endeavor in opening your mind to new concepts.
Most Famous French Philosophers
Over the years and centuries, French philosophy has played a vital role in shaping our society and understanding of the world.
By studying the works of these great thinkers, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the power and potential of philosophy to help us understand society and ourselves.
From Descartes to Foucault, these 17 most famous French philosophers, whose work continues to influence and inspire people worldwide, represent diverse philosophical movements and ideas.
By understanding their perspectives, you can find new ways to engage with the essential issues of our time.
1. Voltaire (1694 – 1778)
By Nicolas de Largillière, CC0, via via Wikimedia Commons
We begin this list of famous French philosophers with Voltaire who was known for his wit and outspokenness on religious freedom, civil liberties, slavery, and justice.
He was a crucial figure of the Enlightenment with works like, “Candide” and “Letters Concerning the English Nation,” which challenged established ideas and paved way for political and social change.
Most people may know him as simply a famous French writer but his contributions to human rights advancement and advocacy remain relevant even today, garnering him another title as one of the most famous French people.
One of the famous quotes associated with Voltaire is, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” which is used in defending free speech and tolerance to date.
Though he did not say those words but rather written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall (Voltaire’s biography writer) to summarize Voltaire’s life beliefs, those words and what he believed in still play an important role in today’s world.
Voltaire’s legacy as a French enlightenment philosopher and cultural critic continues to influence modern thought.
To honor his contributions to France, he was buried in the Paris Pantheon.
2. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 – 1980)
Moshe Milner, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Next on the famous French philosophers list is Jean-Paul Sartre, a leading figure of the 20th-century existentialism movement.
He wrote many works on the subject such as “Being and Nothingness” and “Nausea,” delving into the complex nature of human existence and the struggle to find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.
His famous saying, “Man is condemned to be free,” refers to the idea that humans are free to make choices and determine their own path in life but are also responsible for the consequences of their actions.
Jean-Paul believed that this freedom could be both empowering and overwhelming.
Besides being a philosopher, he was also a writer, novelist, screenwriter, and more and his writings won him the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature.
3. René Descartes (1596 – 1650)
After Frans Hals, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
René Descartes, also known as the “father of modern philosophy,” was one of the most prominent modern French philosophers.
Considered a foundational figure in modern philosophy, René was best known for his famous phrase “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
His well-known work, “Meditations on First Philosophy,” also highlights the central role of reason and consciousness in human existence.
René was also a scientist and mathematician, hence mathematics played a major role in his works.
Although a 17th-century philosopher, René’s contributions to the development of the scientific method remain significant today.
4. Auguste Comte (1798 – 1857)
Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Isidore Marie Auguste François Xavier Comte, or Auguste Comte, was a French philosopher who believed that scientific knowledge and rational thinking were essential to understanding the world.
He coined the term “positivism,” which emphasizes the importance of scientific reasoning in explaining social and natural phenomena instead of relying on superstition or tradition.
Auguste believed his ideas on sociology and positivism were essential for improving society, ultimately helping shape modern social science.
He also created a religion based on his ideals called “Religion of Humanity.” His famous quote, “Order and progress,” focuses on the need for social stability and progress using scientific knowledge.
5. Simone de Beauvoir (1908 – 1986)
刘东 鳌 (Liu Dong’ao), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most famous French female philosophers and writers is Simone de Beauvoir, known for her influential works on existentialism, feminism, and gender equality.
Her 1949 treatise, “The Second Sex,” examined the cultural and societal reasons for the oppression of women hence becoming a seminal text in feminist theory.
De Beauvoir argued that women were not born inferior to men but made to feel so through socialization and cultural norms.
Her writings and works, ranging from her novel “She Came to Stay” (1943) to her memoirs, won her numerous literature prizes.
Simone is also known for her famous quote, “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman,” which challenged the idea that gender is predetermined by biology.
To date, she is still one of the most famous French women who impacted history.
6. Élisabeth Badinter (1944 – present)
If you’re looking for more French female philosophers, next we have Élisabeth Badinter, a leading figure in contemporary feminist philosophy, much like Simone de Beauvoir.
Élisabeth’s writings on gender, motherhood, and women’s history are highly regarded, of which “The Myth of Motherhood” stands out.
It argues against the idea that motherhood is a woman’s primary role and identity.
Based on these ideals, Élisabeth said, “Motherhood is not a destiny, it’s a choice,” challenging traditional gender roles and expectations.
Her work has contributed to modern feminist theory and the ongoing conversations around gender equality and women’s rights.
Today, she is an important figure in fighting for women migrant workers’ rights in France.
7. Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)
After Jacques-Antoine Dassier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
If you’ve heard the expression, “If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are,” Montesquieu is the man behind it.
He was one of the most prominent philosophers of the French Revolution and a thinker from the Enlightenment era.
“The Spirit of the Laws” is a treatise on political theory first published anonymously by Montesquieu in 1748.
Montesquieu’s writings attacked the feudalistic basis of French society. He argued that all people were created equal and emphasized the importance of separation of powers and checks and balances in government, consequently shaping modern democracies with many constitutions implementing it.
Montesquieu’s writings instilled a desire for freedom and liberty hence sparking the French Revolution.
8. Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662)
Palace of Versailles, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher who made significant contributions to probability theory and calculus.
Right from his childhood, he was considered to be outstandingly smart writing a treatise on projective geometry at the age of 16. He was even regarded as a child prodigy.
As a philosopher, he penned his thoughts on religion and morality in a collection called “Pensées,” which affected and shaped the Christian thought.
The famous quote, “The heart has its reasons, which reason knows nothing of,” was Pascal’s and spoke to the idea that faith and emotion hugely impact human decision-making.
His contributions to both mathematics and philosophy still play a significant role to date.
9. Jacques Derrida (1930 – 2004)
One of the most eminent figures of the post-structuralist movement is Jacques Derrida who is considered to be one of the foremost modern French philosophers.
Jacques is best known for his concept of “deconstruction,” challenging the idea that language can convey an absolute truth because he believed that language is inherently unstable and that words and meanings are constantly shifting.
His works “Of Grammatology,” “Writing and Difference,” and “The Post Card” focused on the study of language and its relationship with power, identity, and truth.
He also conveyed his ideology by saying, “There is no out-of-context”, sometimes misquoted as “There is nothing outside the text.”
This refers to the idea that all meaning is created through language and that there is no objective reality beyond context.
10. Peter Abelard (1079 – 1142)
Statue of Peter Abelard – Louvre Museum, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the leading medieval French philosophers was Peter Abelard, a theologian and logician best known for his logical solution to the problem of universals and contributions to the development of scholasticism.
Often referred to as the “Descartes of the 12th century”, he is considered a forerunner of Rousseau and Kant.
His famous quote, “By doubting, we come to inquiry; through inquiry, we perceive the truth,” reflects his emphasis on critical thinking and skepticism as essential tools for intellectual inquiry.
Abelard’s works include “Sic et Non,” a collection of contradictory views on theological topics, and “Ethics,” which explores the relationship between virtue and happiness.
11. Simone Weil (1909 – 1943)
Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The 3rd person among the French female philosophers on this list is Simone Adolphine Weil.
A teacher by profession, she assisted in the trade union movement by spending more than a year working as a laborer to better understand what ordinary workers went through.
She explored the themes of social justice, spirituality, and personal morality based on her experiences as a factory worker, labor organizer, and member of the French Resistance during World War II.
Weil’s works, such as “Gravity and Grace” and “The Need for Roots,” are notable for their philosophical and spiritual depth.
Her belief in paying attention to others and the world around us is reflected in her saying, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
12. Michel Foucault (1926 – 1984)
Brazilian National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Paul-Michel Foucault donned many hats! He was a prominent French philosopher, social theorist, historian of ideas, and literary critic.
His work focused on the relationship between power, knowledge, and social control through societal institutions.
His ideologies have impacted a range of disciplines, like anthropology, psychology, sociology, cultural studies, feminism, and even Marxism.
One of his famous sayings is, “Knowledge is not for knowing: knowledge is for cutting.”
This reflects his view that knowledge is not neutral but serves to shape and control the world in particular ways.
His major works include “Madness and Civilization,” “Discipline and Punish,” and “The History of Sexuality.”
13. Gilles Deleuze (1925 – 1995)
Gilles Deleuze was a modern French philosopher known for his work on the concept of difference and the creation of new ideas.
He believed in the importance of experimentation and creativity, emphasizing the need to break away from traditional ways of thinking.
Deleuze’s major works include ” A Thousand Plateaus (1980)” and “Capitalism and Schizophrenia: Anti-Oedipus (1972),” which he co-authored with psychoanalyst Felix Guattari, but scholars deem the metaphysical treatise “Difference and Repetition” (1968) as his most remarkable work!
One of his most famous quotes is, “To philosophize is to create concepts,” highlighting the importance of active and imaginative thinking in philosophy.
14. Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908 – 1961)
http://www.philosophical-investigations.org/Users/PerigGouanvic, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a well-known French phenomenologist and philosopher.
He wrote on various topics, from art to politics, religion to biology, and psychoanalysis to nature.
Maurice is, however, known for his works on perception and embodied cognition which challenged traditional views of knowledge and reality.
He established the leftist magazine Les Temps Modernes with Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir in 1945 and was also its lead editor.
Apart from this, his major works include “The Structure of Behavior” and “Phenomenology of Perception,” which explored the role of the body in perception and experience.
One of his most famous quotes is, “We know not through our intellect but through our experience.”
15. Henri Bergson (1859 – 1941)
Henri Manuel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Henri-Louis Bergson, known for his contributions to the philosophy of time, consciousness, and intuition was a famous French philosopher who believed that time is not linear.
One of his most famous sayings is, “The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”
Bergson’s philosophy significantly impacted modernist literature and art movements such as surrealism and futurism.
His major works include “Time and Free Will,” “Matter and Memory,” and “Creative Evolution.”
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, and 3 years later, he was awarded with France’s highest honor, the Grand-Croix de la Legion d’honneur.
16. Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592)
Michel de Montaigne is one of the famous French philosophers – Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
16th-century philosopher and writer Michel Eyquem, Sieur de Montaigne, also known as the Lord of Montaigne, is one of the famous philosophers of France.
His influential work, “Essais,” a collection of essays on various topics is believed to have popularized essays as a literary genre and his work has had a significant impact on the development of modern philosophy.
One of his most famous sayings is a skeptical remark, ”Que sçay-je?” or “Que sais-je?” (“What do I know?”), reflecting his emphasis on humility and skepticism.
Montaigne is famous for his humanistic approach to philosophy, emphasizing the importance of individual experience and subjective interpretation.
17. Jean Baudrillard (1929 – 2007)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ayaleila, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
We end the famous philosophers from France list with the modern philosopher, sociologist, and French poet, Jean Baudrillard.
In his works, Jean explored the concept of hyperreality which analyzes the blurring of boundaries between reality and simulation.
He also delved into topics related to consumerism, media, and the political economy.
He is known for saying, “The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth—it is the truth which conceals that there is none.”
His most influential works include “The System of Objects (1968),” “Simulacra and Simulation (1981),” and ” The Gulf War Did Not Take Place (1991).”
Final Thoughts on Famous French Philosophers
French philosophy is a vast topic, and this list of French philosophers only scratches the surface.
What are your thoughts on their opinions and beliefs? Apart from this article, if you’re interested in exploring French philosophy further, you can read their works, attend lectures, and engage in discussions with fellow philosophy enthusiasts.
And as always, if I’ve left out some French thinkers whom you think deserve to be on this list, drop them in the comments below — be it French political philosophers, philosophers of the French revolution, or social philosophers.
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