Marc Sautet
Encyclopedia
Marc Sautet was a French writer, teacher, translator (mainly of Nietzsche)), and philosopher. He was a Doctor of Philosophy (B. Litt.)) at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. Sautet was a former Trotskyist who however edited two books on the German philosopher and philologist Friedrich Nietzsche
. Marc Sautet emphasised that Nietzsche was a precursor of his time.
Sautet branched out from his normal academic career as a lecturer
by giving philosophy consultation services to businessmen in the bourgeois district of Le Marais
in Paris around 1990 to 1991. He opened up his "cabinet de philosophie" charging consultation fees of some 200 Francs
an hour, an amount similar to a professional psychoanalyst of the time. This was not a successful enterprise for Sautet, however it did lead him to setting up informal philosophising for the ordinary citizen in Parisian cafes starting in 1992. He called this movement "café for Socrates," which became the title of one of his books (1995).
Sautet seemed to have been a quite likeable person that influenced others considerably. He wished his philosophy cafes to be for all people (parleurs de la taverne)) and to encourage freedom of expression regardless of academic background. He did not want power, money, nor religion to influence the discussions. He wished to revive the Socratic method
at the meetings. He claimed, I help my clients to structure their thoughts. I am there to nourish their doubts and pose the right questions, not to supply the answers.
Sautet considered his work, after Freud, as the practice of a sort of medicine (philotherapy). He desired to cure the European civilization of moral deterioration. He followed with passion international events, especially in Europe. Sautet wanted to bring people's everyday problems and ideas to birth. In 1992 Sautet founded Café Philosophique
("cafe-philo").
- the Athens marketplace where Athenian philosophers and the general public met for social gatherings and talks. The rules of his Café Philosophique, also referred to as "cafés-philos", were that the speaker was to talk to everyone at all times, not to any individual. The speaker was not to be an expert on any subject and one person (probably the moderator) was to pick the topic of discussion.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
. Marc Sautet emphasised that Nietzsche was a precursor of his time.
Sautet branched out from his normal academic career as a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
by giving philosophy consultation services to businessmen in the bourgeois district of Le Marais
Le Marais
Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance...
in Paris around 1990 to 1991. He opened up his "cabinet de philosophie" charging consultation fees of some 200 Francs
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
an hour, an amount similar to a professional psychoanalyst of the time. This was not a successful enterprise for Sautet, however it did lead him to setting up informal philosophising for the ordinary citizen in Parisian cafes starting in 1992. He called this movement "café for Socrates," which became the title of one of his books (1995).
Sautet seemed to have been a quite likeable person that influenced others considerably. He wished his philosophy cafes to be for all people (parleurs de la taverne)) and to encourage freedom of expression regardless of academic background. He did not want power, money, nor religion to influence the discussions. He wished to revive the Socratic method
Socratic method
The Socratic method , named after the classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas...
at the meetings. He claimed, I help my clients to structure their thoughts. I am there to nourish their doubts and pose the right questions, not to supply the answers.
Sautet considered his work, after Freud, as the practice of a sort of medicine (philotherapy). He desired to cure the European civilization of moral deterioration. He followed with passion international events, especially in Europe. Sautet wanted to bring people's everyday problems and ideas to birth. In 1992 Sautet founded Café Philosophique
Café Philosophique
Café philosophique is a grassroots forum for philosophical discussion, founded by philosopher Marc Sautet in Paris, France....
("cafe-philo").
Philosophy cafe
Sautet, who has sometimes been labeled the "modern Socrates," wished to recreate the agoraAgora
The Agora was an open "place of assembly" in ancient Greek city-states. Early in Greek history , free-born male land-owners who were citizens would gather in the Agora for military duty or to hear statements of the ruling king or council. Later, the Agora also served as a marketplace where...
- the Athens marketplace where Athenian philosophers and the general public met for social gatherings and talks. The rules of his Café Philosophique, also referred to as "cafés-philos", were that the speaker was to talk to everyone at all times, not to any individual. The speaker was not to be an expert on any subject and one person (probably the moderator) was to pick the topic of discussion.