I hold a strong background in the history of philosophy and medical humanities.
After completing my preparatory classes (hypokhâgne and khâgnes) at Lycée La Bruyère and Fénelon, I entered the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) (1993–1998), where I earned my agrégation de philosophie in 1996. My academic journey led me to specialize in the history and philosophy of medical sciences during my PhD (1998–2002). My dissertation explored the moral, theological, and political implications of medical analyses of melancholy in 17th-century England, from Robert Burton to the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury. Supported by a Lavoisier scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I completed my research at Oxford University’s Maison Française. Following my PhD, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher on Franco-British intellectual networks, collaborating with Ann Thomson. During this period, I also began training in translation. From 2008 to 2010, I engaged in clinical ethics at Cochin Hospital, where I deepened my understanding of medical practice, enriching my reflection on medical humanities. This experience reinforced my commitment to bridging healthcare and humanistic disciplines, particularly in addressing ethical questions surrounding human life, death, aging, respiration, sleep, emotions, and passions.
In 2013–2014, I earned my Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) with a study on the practice of observation in John Locke’s medical manuscripts. This project involved a collaborative translation and edition of Locke’s texts, working alongside Peter Anstey (who transcribed the manuscripts) and colleagues in anglophone studies, translation, and intellectual history.For the past decade, I have been involved in a long-term collaborative project translating Francis Bacon’s Sylva Sylvarum (1627), alongside Sylvie Kleiman (Paris Ouest - Nanterre University) and Sandrine Parageau (Sorbonne University). This work reflects my ongoing commitment to making historical philosophical and scientific texts accessible to contemporary audiences.
My research broadly explores the intersection of medicine, philosophy, and history, with a particular focus on:
Medical humanities: The dialogue between health, humanities, and social sciences, especially in ethical debates on human life, death, and bodily experiences.
History of knowledge: The relationship between folk knowledge and scientific discourse, as well as the historical and contemporary skepticism toward scientific understanding of the body and nature.
I am deeply interested in how scientific and medical knowledge have evolved, particularly in relation to societal trust and the ways in which these fields have shaped—and been shaped by—cultural and philosophical thought.