French philosophers : From Descartes, who founded modern philosophy, to Lévinas via Sartre, French philosophy is read and celebrated around the world. Indeed, France has given philosophy its most important and influential contributors, with Germany and Greece where a modest and curious young stonemason became the first philosopher in history. His name is Socrates, he walks barefoot and has only one passion: to learn from others by asking them questions.
A Personalized Journey with PARIS BY EMY
Paris has long been a hub for French thought, and PARIS BY EMY invites you to explore this rich intellectual history with a personalized tour that takes you beyond the typical preset settings and brings you closer to the minds that shaped both French culture and the world. Whether you’re a philosophy enthusiast or simply curious about the evolution of ideas, this journey will explore French philosophers from the French Revolution to contemporary thinkers.
Walk in the footsteps of René Descartes, who famously said, “Je pense, donc je suis” (I think, therefore I am), and reflect on his first philosophy as we visit the places that inspired his deductive mode of reasoning. Discover how Descartes and other philosophers, like Michel de Montaigne, paved the way for modern sense in philosophy, balancing scientific revolution with literary philosophy and analytic philosophy.
Learn about Simone de Beauvoir and her Second Sex, one of the most influential feminist works that sparked debates about human rights, social issues, and private property. Uncover the ideas of Michel Foucault, a key figure in post-structuralism, who examined social disorder, the social contract, and popular sovereignty in his work.
Our private guided tour will also delve into the vitalizing ideas of thinkers like Peter Abelard, who argued through brilliant abstract propositions, and the French Renaissance philosophers who explored natural phenomena and human nature. As we visit significant spots where these great minds lived and worked, you’ll gain insight into their political activism, contributions to popular culture, and their views on political systems.
This journey through the many schools of thought in Paris is perfect for those interested in French Renaissance philosophy, positive philosophy, or the ideas of contemporary thinkers. Discover how these philosophers not only shaped French political philosophy, but their ideas continue to influence popular culture and the modern world. Join us for an unforgettable experience, where vitalizing ideas meet the first person perspective in the heart of Paris.
Paris Private Tour Guide
| Pricing | Duration | Number of people | Custom Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 240 Euros | 2 hours walking | Up to 6 persons | Hotel pick up |
| From 360 Euros | 3 hours walking | Up to 6 persons | Hotel pick up |
| From 480 Euros | 4 hours walking | Up to 6 persons | Hotel pick up |
| From 850 Euros | 4 hours guide and driver | Up to 6 persons | Hotel pick up |
| Upon quotation | Your choice | Your choice | Your choice |
Definition of philosophy
Philosophy, from the ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (composed of φιλεῖν, philein: “to love”; and of σοφία, sophia: “wisdom” or “to know”), literally meaning “love of wisdom”, is an approach of critical reflection and of questioning about the world, knowledge and human existence.
Aristotle: “Philosophy is rightly called the science of truth” (Metaphysics)
French philosophers
- René Descartes: Founder of the cogito – influenced by: Plato, Aristotle
- Montaigne: Father of humanism precursor and founder of “human and historical sciences”
- Marie de Gournay wrote The Equality of Men and Women editor and commentator of Montaigne
- Blaise Pascal: Creator of existentialism also French mathematician, physicist, inventor
- Montesquieu: Thinker of the separation of powers legislative, executive and judicial
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Thinker of democracy influenced by Hobbes and Locke
- Diderot: Founder of the Encyclopedia prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment
- Voltaire: Philosopher of tolerance prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment.
- Bergson: Thinker of vital energy influenced by Gilles Deleuze, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre
- Durkheim: developed a vigorous methodology combining empirical research with sociological theory
- Comte: Formulated the doctrine of positivism influenced by Saint Simon
- Tocqueville: Observer of democracy French aristocrat, diplomat, political scientist, political philosopher
- Alain (Émile Chartier) : Cartesian thinker, associated with rationalism
- Bachelard: Epistemologist French philosopher of science, poetry, education and time
- Baudrillard: French sociologist, philosopher for his analyses of media, culture, and communication
- Sartre: one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology
- De Beauvoir: significant influence on both feminist existentialism and feminist theory
- Monique Wittig : Philosopher and feminist who wrote about overcoming enforced gender roles
- Camus: French-Algerian philosopher thinker of the absurd
- Jankélévitch: Thinker of death and moralist influenced by Henri Bergson
- Lévi – Strauss: key in the development of the theory of structuralism
- Bourdieu: Marxist sociologist, creator of the sociology of fields
- Simone Weil: thinker of Christian mysticism and marxism
- Élisabeth Badinter : known for her philosophical treatises on feminism and women’s role in society…
Depending on your interests, we will custom the tour for a private walking or driving tour
French philosophers in Paris
Lots of philosophers from above have studied, worked, and lived in Paris : Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Montesquieu, Diderot, Voltaire, Rousseau, Simone Weil…
One of my favorite French philosophers are The philosophes des Lumières. This movement began in the second half of the 17th century, originating in France with Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, and spreading throughout Europe. Over time, it became the Siècle des Lumières, in English the Age of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, these political, social, economic thinkers made commitments against political and religious oppression, social and ethnic injustices and intellectual obscurantism. Finally, these French philosophers inspired the revolution of 1789.
“To philosophize is to give the reason for things, or at least to seek it; for as long as we limit ourselves to seeing and reporting what we see we are only a historian. When we calculate and measure the proportions things, their magnitudes, their values, one is a mathematician – but the one who stops to discover the reason which makes that things are, and that things are rather like that than in another way, it is the philosopher proper “
Diderot and D’Alembert, Encyclopédie, article” Philosophie “
A major icon of the the Age of Enlightenment is Voltaire. Voltaire’s body was transferred to the Pantheon on July 11, 1791 without his heart and his brain, dispatched in other places. In 1864, Napoleon III decided to bring the heart of the philosopher to Paris from Voltaire’s castle in Ferney and to transfer it to the National Library. Actually, His heart is placed in the plaster of a statue made by sculptor Houdon: it is still there today. The marble statue of Voltaire at the Comédie-Française in Paris hold his brain. Discover this great man !
Beyond philosophers in Paris tour
PARIS BY EMY offers customizable Paris tour guide combinations that allow you to combine different types of experiences.
- Customizable Format: Private walking tour or driving tour to cover more ground comfortably
- From €360 for 1 up to 6 persons – 3 walking hours – USD $375 upon level of customization
You can also personalize the tours to focus on personalized Paris Tour Guide tailoring the experience to your preferences.