The Life of Ideas: French Environmental Thought

French intellectual culture has profoundly shaped global environmental thinking, from early critics of industrial modernity to contemporary theorists of the Anthropocene. This chapter explores how philosophers, writers, artists, and cultural producers have influenced environmental consciousness in France and beyond. We examine not just elite intellectual production but also popular culture, media representations, and everyday cultural practices that shape environmental understanding.

The French tradition of the "engaged intellectual" (intellectuel engagé) means that environmental thought rarely remains confined to academia. Ideas circulate through newspapers, cafés, protests, and artistic works, creating a distinctive public culture of environmental debate. Understanding French environmentalism requires appreciating this rich cultural dimension that gives meaning and motivation to political struggles.