French Literature Reviews - 2026
V. Citot, Histoire mondiale de la philosophie
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Writing the history of philosophy is not about recounting the successive thoughts of great authors, but rather about making intelligible the trajectories embedded in their respective times. The history of philosophy is merely a branch of intellectual history, which is itself a part of cultural history nested within social history. Without merging these Russian dolls—since each stratum enjoys a relative autonomy—it is nonetheless essential to think of philosophy within its intellectual and socio-cultural context. This is the primary prerequisite for a properly informed history.
Furthermore, how can we determine whether the history of philosophy follows certain laws, if not by comparing the histories of the various civilizations in which such thought can be identified? The study of Greek, Roman, Arab-Muslim, European, Russian, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese intellectual networks reveals striking recurrences: the cycles of intellectual life, although always unique, are broadly analogous. These findings cast doubt on the freedom of intellectual activity while simultaneously underscoring our responsibility to think well.
Thus, this book is the first history of philosophy that is simultaneously global (spanning eight civilizations), intellectual (integrating the history of religious, scientific, moral, and political thought), and comparative (seeking to identify recurrences and underlying laws).
Table of contents available on the publisher's website...
Vincent Citot, *agrégé* and PhD in philosophy, teaches at INSPE of Paris – Sorbonne University. Editor-in-chief of the journal Le Philosophoire (Vrin), his notable publications include Puissance et impuissance de la réflexion (2017) and Problèmes épistémologiques en histoire de la philosophie (co-authored, 2017).
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Historiography of philosophy connects philosophical trajectories to their broader cultural and social surroundings. Vincent Citot engages with this methodological approach by placing philosophical thought within its wider intellectual and socio-cultural context, which serves as a prerequisite for a properly informed history. The comparative study of diverse intellectual networks allows scholars to examine patterns across various cultural traditions, from ancient Greece and Rome to Arab-Muslim, European, Russian, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese civilizations. Readers interested in global intellectual history and the comparative study of civilizations may find this comprehensive exploration relevant to their broader academic pursuits regarding the recurring cycles of human thought and philosophical inquiry.