Frédéric Gros

By walking, you escape from the very idea of identity, the temptation to be someone, to have a name and a history ... The freedom in walking lies in not being anyone; for the walking body has no history, it is just an eddy in the stream of immemorial life. In A Philosophy of Walking, a bestseller in France, leading...

The world is out of joint, so much so that disobeying should be an urgent act for everyone. In this provocative essay, Frédéric Gros explores the roots of political obedience, social conformity, economic subjection, respect for authorities, and constitutional consensus. Examining the various styles of obedience provides tools to study, invent, and induce new forms of civic disobedience and lyrical...

Can shame become a source of political strength? Faced with injustice, growing inequality and systemic violence, we cry out in shame. We feel ashamed of obscene wealth amid wider deprivation. We feel ashamed of humanity for its ruthless and relentless exploitation of the earth. We feel ashamed of the racism and sexism that permeate society and our everyday lives. This...

According to one wag, war ‘died in Hiroshima’ more than half a century ago. And yet it has never gone away. Terrorist acts, Israeli-Palestinian and Middle Eastern conflicts, the implosion of Yugoslavia, countries torn apart by factions, not to mention other wars: economic, psychological, computer, gender or generational... Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reshuffled the cards. This time, they say,...

A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros is a profound journey into the act of walking and its significance in our lives. This erudite and thought-provoking book delves into various aspects of walking, exploring it as more than just a means of transportation but as a powerful philosophical endeavour. Each step is a reflection, each path a narrative, as Gros...