Philosopher and psychoanalyst
17 March 2026, Paris
Philosopher and psychoanalyst, and a major figure in contemporary thought, Cynthia Fleury is a full professor holding the “Humanities and Health” chair at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, an associate professor at Mines Paris, and the chair of philosophy at the GHU Paris Psychiatry & Neurosciences. At the crossroads of philosophy, care, and democratic issues, her work probes with depth our relationship to courage, dignity, resilience, and the vulnerabilities of our societies.
Author of numerous works that have become essential references – among them Les Pathologies de la démocratie, La Fin du courage, Les Irremplaçables, Ci-gît l’amer and La Clinique de la dignité – she explores with great subtlety the individual and collective mechanisms that shape our commitments and responsibilities.
Her work gained renewed resonance with the theatrical adaptation of La Fin du courage, which was presented at the Théâtre de l’Atelier until March 2026 and was performed by six pairs of actresses. This staging extended the reflection on the role of courage in contemporary societies and the need to reinvent it.
Deeply engaged in public life for many years, Cynthia Fleury was the youngest member of the National Consultative Ethics Committee, co founded the International Network of Women Philosophers under the auspices of UNESCO, and held responsibilities within EuropaNova. She is a regular media contributor and writes a weekly column for L’Humanité.
During this dinner, Cynthia Fleury shared her reflections on La Fin du courage, as well as the major themes that guide her intellectual and civic engagement.