Michel Onfray (; born 1 January 1959) is a French writer and philosopher with a

hedonistic Hedonism refers to a family of theories, all of which have in common that pleasure plays a central role in them. ''Psychological'' or ''motivational hedonism'' claims that human behavior is determined by desires to increase pleasure and to decre ...

epicurean Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism. Few writings by Ep ...

and atheist worldview. A highly-prolific author on philosophy, he has written over 100 books. His philosophy is mainly influenced by such thinkers as

Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (; or ; 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, prose poet, cultural critic, philologist, and composer whose work has exerted a profound influence on contemporary philosophy. He began his car ...

, Epicurus, the Cynic and

Cyrenaic The Cyrenaics or Kyrenaics ( grc, Κυρηναϊκοί, Kyrēnaïkoí), were a sensual hedonist Greek school of philosophy founded in the 4th century BCE, supposedly by Aristippus of Cyrene, although many of the principles of the school are belie ...

schools, as well as French materialism. He has gained notoriety for writing such works as ''Traité d'athéologie: Physique de la métaphysique'' (translated into English as '' Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam''), ''Politique du rebelle: traité de résistance et d'insoumission'', ''Physiologie de Georges Palante, portrait d'un nietzchéen de gauche'', ''La puissance d'exister'' and ''La sculpture de soi'' for which he won the annual

Prix Médicis The Prix Médicis is a French literary award given each year in November. It was founded in 1958 by and . It is awarded to an author whose "fame does not yet match his talent." The award goes to a work of fiction in the French language. In 19 ...

in 1993. Onfray is often regarded as being

left-wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...

; however, some observers have stated that he harbours right-wing tendencies. He has become appreciated by some far-right circles, notably with his sovereignist magazine ''Front populaire''.

Life

Born in Argentan to a family of Norman farmers, Onfray was sent to a weekly Catholic boarding school from ages 10 to 14. This was a solution many parents in France adopted at the time when they lived far from the village school or had working hours that made it too hard or too expensive to transport their children to and from school daily. The young Onfray, however, did not appreciate his new environment, which he describes as a place of suffering. Onfray went on to graduate with a teaching degree in philosophy. He taught this subject to senior students at a high school that concentrates on technical degrees in Caen between 1983 and 2002. At that time, he and his supporters established the '' Université populaire de Caen'', proclaiming its foundation on a free-of-charge basis and on the manifesto written by Onfray in 2004 (''La communauté philosophique''). Onfray is an atheist and author of ''Traité d'Athéologie'' ('' Atheist Manifesto''), which "became the number one best-selling nonfiction book in France for months when it was published in the Spring of 2005 (the word 'atheologie' Onfray borrowed from Georges Bataille and dedicated to

Raoul Vaneigem Raoul Vaneigem (; born 21 March 1934) is a Belgian writer known for his 1967 book ''The Revolution of Everyday Life''. He was born in Lessines ( Hainaut, Belgium) and studied romance philology at the Free University of Brussels from 1952 to 1 ...

who he defended freedom of speech, including

Holocaust denial Holocaust denial is an antisemitic conspiracy theory that falsely asserts that the Nazi genocide of Jews, known as the Holocaust, is a myth, fabrication, or exaggeration. Holocaust deniers make one or more of the following false statements: ...

, in ''Nothing is sacred, everything can be said''. The book repeated its popular French success in Italy, where it was published in September 2005 and quickly soared to number one on Italy's bestseller lists." In the 2002 election, Onfray endorsed the French Revolutionary Communist League and its candidate for the French presidency,

Olivier Besancenot Olivier Christophe Besancenot (; born 18 April 1974) is a French left-wing political figure and trade unionist, and the founding main spokesperson of the New Anticapitalist Party (''Nouveau parti anticapitaliste'', NPA) from 2009 to 2011. He w ...

. In 2007, he endorsed

José Bové Joseph "José" Bové (born 11 June 1953) is a French farmer, politician and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential elec ...

but eventually voted for Besancenot and conducted an interview with the future French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who, Onfray declared in ''Philosophie Magazine,'' was an "ideological enemy". His book ''Le crépuscule d'une idole : L'affabulation freudienne'' (''The Twilight of an Idol: The Freudian Confabulation''), published in 2010, has been the subject of considerable controversy in France because of its criticism of

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud ( , ; born Sigismund Schlomo Freud; 6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies explained as originating in conflicts ...

. He recognises Freud as a philosopher but brings attention to the considerable cost of Freud's treatments and casts doubts on the effectiveness of his methods. In 2015, Onfray published ''Cosmos'', the first book of a trilogy. Onfray considers ironically that it constitutes his "very first book".

Philosophy

Onfray writes that there is no philosophy without self-

psychoanalysis PsychoanalysisFrom Greek: + . is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques"What is psychoanalysis? Of course, one is supposed to answer that it is many things — a theory, a research method, a therapy, a body of knowledge. In what might b ...

. He describes himself as an atheist"He is a self-described hedonist, atheist, libertarian, and left-wing anarchist
(en) France, Media, Michel Onfray, A self labeled Anarchist Philosopher
/ref> and considers theistic religion to be indefensible.

View on history of Western philosophy and philosophical project

Onfray has published nine books under a project of history of philosophy called ''Counter-history of Philosophy''. In each of these books Onfray deals with a particular historical period in western philosophy. The series of books are composed by the titles I. ''Les Sagesses Antiques'' (2006) (on western antiquity), II. ''Le Christianisme hédoniste'' (2006) (on Christian hedonism from the Renaissance period), III. ''Les libertins baroques'' (2007) (on libertine thought from the

Baroque era The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including th ...

), IV. ''Les Ultras des Lumières'' (2007) (on radical enlightenment thought), V. ''L'Eudémonisme social'' (2008) (on radical

utilitarian In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different charac ...

and eudaimonistic thought), VI. ''Les Radicalités existentielles'' (2009) (on 19th and 20th century radical

existentialist Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on human thinking, feeling, and acting. Existentialist thinkers frequently explore issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value ...

thinkers) and VII. ''La construction du surhomme: Jean-Marie Guyau,

Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (; or ; 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, prose poet, cultural critic, philologist, and composer whose work has exerted a profound influence on contemporary philosophy. He began his ...

'' (on Guyau's and Nietzsche's philosophy in relation to the concept of the ''

Übermensch The (; "Overhuman") is a concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. In his 1883 book ''Thus Spoke Zarathustra'' (german: Also sprach Zarathustra), Nietzsche has his character Zarathustra posit the as a goal for humanity to set for itse ...

''). VIII. ''Les Freudiens hérétiques'' (2013). IX. ''Les Consciences réfractaires'' (2013). In an interview, Onfray established his view on the history of philosophy:

There is in fact a multitude of ways to practice philosophy, but out of this multitude, the dominant historiography picks one tradition among others and makes it the truth of philosophy: that is to say the idealist, spiritualist lineage compatible with the Judeo-Christian world view. From that point on, anything that crosses this partial – in both senses of the word – view of things finds itself dismissed. This applies to nearly all non-Western philosophies, Oriental wisdom in particular, but also sensualist, empirical, materialist,
nominalist In metaphysics, nominalism is the view that universals and abstract objects do not actually exist other than being merely names or labels. There are at least two main versions of nominalism. One version denies the existence of universalsthings th ...
,
hedonistic Hedonism refers to a family of theories, all of which have in common that pleasure plays a central role in them. ''Psychological'' or ''motivational hedonism'' claims that human behavior is determined by desires to increase pleasure and to decre ...
currents and everything that can be put under the heading of "anti-
Plato Plato ( ; grc-gre, Πλάτων ; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought and the Academy, the first institution ...
nic philosophy". Philosophy that comes down from the heavens is the kind that – from Plato to Levinas by way of
Kant Immanuel Kant (, , ; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aest ...
and Christianity – needs a world behind the scenes to understand, explain and justify this world. The other line of force rises from the earth because it is satisfied with the given world, which is already so much.

"His mission is to rehabilitate materialist and sensualist thinking and use it to re-examine our relationship to the world. Approaching philosophy as a reflection of each individual's personal experience, Onfray inquires into the capabilities of the body and its senses and calls on us to celebrate them through music, painting, and fine cuisine."

Hedonism

Onfray defines hedonism "as an introspective attitude to life based on taking pleasure yourself and pleasuring others, without harming yourself or anyone else." "Onfray's philosophical project is to define an ethical hedonism, a joyous

utilitarianism In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different chara ...

, and a generalized aesthetic of sensual materialism that explores how to use the brain's and the body's capacities to their fullest extent – while restoring philosophy to a useful role in art, politics, and everyday life and decisions". Onfray's works "have explored the philosophical resonances and components of (and challenges to) science, painting, gastronomy, sex and sensuality, bioethics, wine, and writing. His most ambitious project is his projected six-volume ''Counter-history of Philosophy''", three of which have been published. Onfray writes:

In opposition to the ascetic ideal advocated by the dominant school of thought, hedonism suggests identifying the highest good with your own pleasure and that of others; the one must never be indulged at the expense of sacrificing the other. Obtaining this balance – my pleasure at the same time as the pleasure of others – presumes that we approach the subject from different angles – political, ethical, aesthetic, erotic, bioethical, pedagogical, historiographical....

His philosophy aims for "micro-revolutions", or "revolutions of the individual and small groups of like-minded people who live by his hedonistic, libertarian values".

Relation to hedonism

In ''La puissance d'exister: Manifeste hédoniste'', Onfray claims that the political dimension of hedonism runs from Epicurus to John Stuart Mill to

Jeremy Bentham Jeremy Bentham (; 15 February 1748 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._4_February_1747.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Old Style and New Style dates">O.S. 4 February 1747">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.htm ...

and

Claude Adrien Helvétius Claude Adrien Helvétius (; ; 26 January 1715 – 26 December 1771) was a French philosopher, freemason and ''littérateur''. Life Claude Adrien Helvétius was born in Paris, France, and was descended from a family of physicians, originally su ...

. Political hedonism aims to create ''the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers''.

Alcohol

In ''La Raison gourmande'', he analyses the relation between philosophers and wine:

Gaston Bachelard Gaston Bachelard (; ; 27 June 1884 – 16 October 1962) was a French philosopher. He made contributions in the fields of poetics and the philosophy of science. To the latter, he introduced the concepts of ''epistemological obstacle'' and '' epis ...

and Burgundy,

Michel Serres Michel Serres (; 1 September 1930 – 1 June 2019) was a French philosopher, theorist and writer. His works explore themes of science, time and death, and later incorporated prose. Life and career The son of a bargeman, Serres entered France's ...

and

Château d'Yquem Château d'Yquem () is a '' Premier Cru Supérieur'' ( Fr: "Superior First Growth") wine from the Sauternes, Gironde region in the southern part of the Bordeaux vineyards known as Graves. In the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, Ch ...

. He names also the "alcoholic philosophers":

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology), a French playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and lit ...

, Simone de Beauvoir, Gilles Deleuze, Guy Debord and

, in particular, to whom he dedicated his ''Traité d'athéologie'' (2005).

Religion

The blogger J. M. Cornwell praised Onfray's ''Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam'' by claiming that it "is a religious and historical time capsule" containing what he sees as "the true deceptions of theological philosophy". Onfray has been involved in promoting the work of

Jean Meslier Jean Meslier (; also Mellier; 15 June 1664 – 17 June 1729) was a French Catholic priest (abbé) who was discovered, upon his death, to have written a book-length philosophical essay promoting atheism and materialism. Described by the author as ...

, an 18th-century French Catholic priest who was discovered, upon his death, to have written a book-length philosophical essay promoting atheism. In ''Atheist Manifesto'', Onfray states that among the "incalculable number of contradictions and improbabilities in the body of the text of the synoptic Gospels" two claims are made: crucifixion victims were not laid to rest in tombs, and in any case, Jews were not crucified in this period. The historian John Dickson, of Macquarie University, has said that

Philo Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. Philo's de ...

of Alexandria, who wrote about the time of Jesus, noted that the Romans sometimes handed the bodies of crucifixion victims over to family members for proper burial. The Roman Jewish historian

Flavius Josephus Flavius Josephus (; grc-gre, Ἰώσηπος, ; 37 – 100) was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian and military leader, best known for '' The Jewish War'', who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly ...

even remarks: "the Jews are so careful about funeral rites that even malefactors who have been sentenced to crucifixion are taken down and buried before sunset". Regarding the second claim, Dickson calls this a "clear historical blunder". In Onfray's latest book, ''Décadence'' he argued for

Christ myth theory The Christ myth theory, also known as the Jesus myth theory, Jesus mythicism, or the Jesus ahistoricity theory, is the view that "the story of Jesus is a piece of mythology", possessing no "substantial claims to historical fact". Alternative ...

, which is a hypotheses that Jesus was not a historical person. Onfray based this on the fact that, other than in the New Testament, Jesus is barely mentioned in accounts of the period. In July 2021, Onfray criticised

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

's apostolic letter '' Traditionis custodes'' by arguing that the

Tridentine Mass The Tridentine Mass, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass or Traditional Rite, is the liturgy of Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church that appears in typical editions of the Roman Missal published from 1570 to 1962. Celebrated almo ...

embodies “the heritage of the genealogical time of our civilization".

Université populaire de Caen

Onfray was a secondary school philosophy teacher for two decades until he resigned in 2002 to establish a tuition-free Université populaire (People's University) at Caen, at which he and several colleagues teach philosophy and other subjects.

"The Université populaire, which is open to all who cannot access the state university system, and on principle does not accept any money from the State -- Onfray uses the profits from his books to help finance it -- has had enormous success. Based on Onfray's book ''La Communauté philosophique: Manifeste pour l'Université populaire'' (2004), the original UP now has imitators in Picardy, Arras,
Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...
,
Narbonne Narbonne (, also , ; oc, Narbona ; la, Narbo ; Late Latin:) is a commune in Southern France in the Occitanie region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. It is located about from the shores of the ...
, and Le Mans, with five more in preparation."

"The national public radio network France Culture annually broadcasts his course of lectures to the Université Populaire on philosophical themes."

Reception

Several authors criticise Onfray for approximations and historical errors contained in several of his works. That is particularly the case of the historians Guillaume Mazeau,

Élisabeth Roudinesco Élisabeth Roudinesco ( ro , Rudinescu; born 10 September 1944) is a French historian and psychoanalyst, affiliated researcher in history at Paris Diderot University, in the group « Identités-Cultures-Territoires ». She also conducts a seminar ...

, Jean-Marie Salamito with his essay ''Monsieur Onfray au pays des mythes'' or even

Ian Birchall Ian Birchall (born 1939) is a British Marxist historian and translator, a former member of the Socialist Workers Party and author of numerous articles and books, particularly relating to the French Left. Formerly Senior Lecturer in French at Mid ...

Awards and honors

Asteroid 289992 Onfray, discovered by astronomers at the Saint-Sulpice Observatory in 2005, was named in Onfray's honour. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 16 March 2014 ().

Criticism of the Algerian regime

During a Television interview and as a response to a visit by French president Emmanuel Macron to

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

in August 2022, Onfray described the ruling regime in Algeria as a "mafia" and asserted that France has no responsibility for the impoverished life of the Algerian people in a country rich in gas and oil because the French had left in 1962. During the interview Onfray said "We know very well that this country has hated us since 1962."

Works

In English

* * * *

In French

* ''Le Ventre des philosophes. Critique de la raison diététique'', Grasset, 1989 * ''Cynismes. Portrait du philosophe en chien'', Grasset, 1990 * ''L’Art de jouir. Pour un matérialisme hédoniste'', Grasset, 1991 * ''La Sculpture de soi. La Morale esthétique'', Grasset, 1993 * ''Ars Moriendi. Cent petits tableaux sur les avantages et les inconvénients de la mort'', Folle Avoine, 1994 * ''La Raison gourmande. Philosophie du goût'', Grasset, 1995 * ''Les Formes du temps. Théorie du sauternes'', Mollat, 1996 * ''Théorie du corps amoureux. Pour une érotique solaire'', Grasset, 2000 * ''Antimanuel de philosophie. Leçons socratiques et alternatives'', Bréal, 2001 * ''Physiologie de Georges Palante. Pour un nietzschéisme de gauche'', Grasset, 2002 * ''L’Invention du plaisir. Fragments cyrénaïques'', LGF, 2002 * ''Célébration du génie colérique. Tombeau de Pierre Bourdieu'', Galilée, 2002 * ''Féeries anatomiques. Généalogie du corps faustien'', Grasset, 2003 * ''La Communauté philosophique. Manifeste pour l’Université populaire'', Galilée, 2004 * ''Traité d’athéologie. Physique de la métaphysique'', Grasset, 2005 * ''La Sagesse tragique. Du bon usage de Nietzsche'', LGF, 2006 * ''Suite à La Communauté philosophique. Une machine à porter la voix'', Galilée, 2006 * ''La Puissance d’exister. Manifeste hédoniste'', Grasset, 2006 * ''L’Innocence du devenir. La Vie de Frédéric Nietzsche'', Galilée, 2008 * ''Le Songe d’Eichmann. Précédé de : Un kantien chez les nazis'', Galilée, 2008 * ''Le Souci des plaisirs. Construction d’une érotique solaire'', Flammarion, 2008 * ''La Religion du poignard. Éloge de Charlotte Corday'', Galilée, 2009 * ''Le Crépuscule d'une idole. L’Affabulation freudienne'', Grasset, 2010 * ''Apostille au Crépuscule. Pour une psychanalyse non freudienne'', Grasset, 2010 * ''Manifeste hédoniste'', Autrement, 2011 * ''L'Ordre libertaire. La Vie philosophique d’

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

'', Flammarion, 2012 * ''Vies et mort d’un dandy. Construction d’un mythe'', Galilée, 2012 * ''Rendre la raison populaire. Université populaire, mode d’emploi'', Autrement, 2012 * ''Le Canari du nazi. Essais sur la monstruosité'', Collectif, Autrement, 2013 * ''La Raison des sortilèges. Entretiens sur la musique'', Autrement, 2013 * ''Bestiaire nietzschéen. Les Animaux philosophiques'', Galilée, 2014 * ''Haute école. Brève histoire du cheval philosophique'', Flammarion, 2015 * ''Penser l'Islam'', Grasset, 2016 * ''La Force du sexe faible. Contre-histoire de la Révolution française'', Autrement, 2016 * ''Tocqueville et les Apaches'', Autrement, 2017 * ''Vivre une vie philosophique. Thoreau le sauvage'', Le Passeur, 2017 * ''Miroir du nihilisme. Houellebecq éducateur'', Galilée, 2017 * ''Solstice d'hiver : Alain, les Juifs, Hitler et l'Occupation'', L'Observatoire, 2018 * ''Le Deuil de la mélancolie'', Robert Laffont 2018 * Brève encyclopédie du monde ** ''Cosmos. Une ontologie matérialiste'', Flammarion, 2015 ** ''Décadence. Vie et mort du judéo-christianisme'', Flammarion, 2017 ** ''Sagesse, Savoir vivre au pied d'un volcan'', Albin Michel 2019 * Contre-histoire de la littérature ** ''Le réel n'a pas eu lieu. Le Principe de Don Quichotte'', Autrement, 2014 ** ''La Passion de la méchanceté. Sur un prétendu divin marquis'', Autrement, 2014 * Contre-histoire de la philosophie ** ''Les Sagesses antiques'', Grasset, 2006 ** ''Le Christianisme hédoniste'', Grasset, 2006 ** ''Les Libertins baroques'', Grasset, 2007 ** ''Les Ultras des Lumières'', Grasset, 2007 ** ''L’Eudémonisme social'', Grasset, 2008 ** ''Les Radicalités existentielles'', Grasset, 2009 ** ''La Construction du surhomme'', Grasset, 2011 ** ''Les Freudiens hérétiques'', Grasset, 2013 ** ''Les Consciences réfractaires'', Grasset, 2013 ** ''La Pensée postnazie'', Grasset, 2018 ** ''L'Autre pensée 68'', Grasset, 2018 * Esthetic ** ''L’Œil nomade. La Peinture de Jacques Pasquier'', Folle Avoine, 1993 ** ''Métaphysique des ruines. La Peinture de Monsù Desiderio'', Mollat, 1995 ** ''Splendeur de la catastrophe. La Peinture de Vladimir Vélikovic'', Galilée, 2002 ** ''Les Icônes païennes. Variations sur Ernest Pignon-Ernest'', Galilée, 2003 ** ''Archéologie du présent. Manifeste pour une esthétique cynique'', Adam Biro/Grasset, 2003 ** ''Épiphanies de la séparation. La Peinture de Gilles Aillaud'', Galilée, 2004 ** ''Oxymoriques. Les Photographies de Bettina Rheims'', Jannink, 2005 ** ''Fixer des vertiges : Les Photographies de Willy Ronis'', Galilée, 2007 ** ''Le Chiffre de la peinture. L’Œuvre de Valerio Adami'', Galilée, 2008 ** ''La Vitesse des simulacres. Les Sculptures de Pollès'', Galilée, 2008 ** ''L'Apiculteur et les Indiens. La Peinture de Gérard Garouste'', Galilée, 2009 ** ''Transe est connaissance. Un chamane nommé Combas'', Flammarion, 2014 ** ''La danse des simulacres'', Robert Laffon, 2019 * Political views ** ''Politique du rebelle. Traité de résistance et d’insoumission'', Grasset, 1997 ** ''La Pensée de midi. Archéologie d’une gauche libertaire'', Galilée, 2007 ** ''Le Postanarchisme expliqué à ma grand-mère. Le Principe de Gulliver'', Galilée, 2012 ** ''Le Miroir aux alouettes. Principes d'athéisme social'', Plon, 2016 ** ''Décoloniser les provinces. Contribution aux présidentielles'', L'Observatoire, 2017 ** ''La Cour des Miracles. Carnets de campagne'', L'Observatoire, 2017 ** ''Zéro de conduite. Carnet d'après-campagne'', L'Observatoire, 2018 ** ''Théorie de la dictature'', Robert Laffon, 2019 ** ''Vies parallèles : De Gaulle - Mitterrand'', Robert Laffon, 2020 * Hedonist diaries ** ''Le Désir d’être un volcan'', Grasset, 1996 ** ''Les Vertus de la foudre'', Grasset, 1998 ** ''L’Archipel des comètes'', Grasset, 2001 ** ''La Lueur des orages désirés'', Grasset, 2007 ** ''Le Magnétisme des solstices'', Flammarion, 2013 ** ''Le Temps de l'étoile polaire'', Robert Laffont, 2019 * The fierce philosophy ** ''Exercices anarchistes'', Galilée, 2004 ** ''Traces de feux furieux'', Galilée, 2006 ** ''Philosopher comme un chien'', Galilée, 2010 * Travelogue ** ''À côté du désir d’éternité. Fragments d’Égypte'', Mollat, 1998 ** ''Esthétique du pôle Nord. Stèles hyperboréennes'', Grasset, 2002 ** ''Théorie du voyage. Poétique de la géographie'', LGF, 2007 ** ''Les Bûchers de Bénarès. Cosmos, Éros et Thanatos'', Galilée, 2008 ** ''Nager avec les piranhas. Carnet guyanais'', Gallimard, 2017 ** ''Le Désir ultramarin. Les Marquises après les Marquises'', Gallimard, 2017 * Tetralogy of elements ** ''Le Recours aux forêts. La Tentation de Démocrite'', Galilée, 2009 ** ''La Sagesse des abeilles. Première leçon de Démocrite'', Galilée, 2012 ** ''La Constellation de la baleine. Le Songe de Démocrite'', Galilée, 2013 ** ''La Cavalière de Pégase. Dernière leçon de Démocrite'', Galilée, 2019 * Poetry ** ''Un requiem athée'', Galilée, 2013 ** ''Avant le silence. Haïkus d’une année'', Galilée, 2014 ** ''Les Petits serpents. Avant le silence, II'', Galilée, 2015 ** ''L'Éclipse de l'éclipse. Avant le silence, III'', Galilée, 2016

References

External links

* * *
Blog about Onfray

Profile of Michel Onfray
in ''

New Humanist ''New Humanist'' is a quarterly magazine, published by the Rationalist Association in the UK, that focuses on culture, news, philosophy, and science from a sceptical perspective. History The ''New Humanist'' has been in print for more than 13 ...

'' magazine, July/August 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:Onfray, Michel 1959 births Living people 20th-century atheists 20th-century French essayists 20th-century French male writers 20th-century French non-fiction writers 20th-century French philosophers 21st-century atheists 21st-century French essayists 21st-century French male writers 21st-century French non-fiction writers 21st-century French philosophers Anti-natalists Atheist philosophers Christ myth theory proponents Consequentialists Critics of religions Cultural critics Epicurean philosophers French anti-capitalists French atheism activists French historians of philosophy French libertarians French male essayists French male non-fiction writers French materialists French people of Norman descent French political philosophers French socialists Hedonism Libertarian socialists Moral philosophers New Atheism People from Argentan Philosophers of art Philosophers of culture Philosophers of economics Philosophers of ethics and morality Philosophers of history Philosophers of love Philosophers of mind Philosophers of religion Philosophers of sexuality Prix Médicis essai winners French social commentators Social critics Social philosophers Utilitarians Writers about religion and science