Mathias Girel

Mathias Girel is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris, where he has held a faculty position since 2009. He serves as Head of the Cavaillès Center, Director of Studies in the Philosophy Department, an elected member of the ENS Scientific Council, and a substitute member of the CNU (section 17). His administrative roles include technical advisor to IHEST and extensive committee service across French academic institutions.

He graduated in Philosophy from ENS Ulm in 1996. His pre-ENS career included six years teaching at Paris 1 University and high school (Chelles), plus project management at IHEST (monitoring and cycle programming).

Girel's research centers on pragmatism and 19th-20th century American philosophy, with deep engagement in figures like Peirce, James, Emerson, and Dewey. He simultaneously investigates history and philosophy of science, specializing in the production of ignorance within scientific debates and doxastic attitude dynamics (belief/doubt interplay). As a Pragmata association member and editorial board contributor for Transactions of the Charles S Peirce Society, he actively shapes pragmatism scholarship through peer review for journals including European Journal of Pragmatism and American Philosophy.

His 2017 article on Peirce's pragmatism exemplifies his signature approach: merging semiotic theory with epistemological analysis to dissect foundational philosophical concepts. This work anchors a broader research trajectory examining how belief formation mechanisms operate within scientific controversies and historical contexts.

No scientific awards are documented in available sources.

While specific student advising records aren't public, his Director of Studies role implies significant mentorship responsibilities. His leadership of the Cavaillès Center and participation in AERES evaluation committees demonstrate institutional research stewardship, though grant details remain unreported.

Girel directs the Cavaillès Center at ENS as its primary research hub, while maintaining active collaboration through the Pragmata association and Transactions of the Charles S Peirce Society editorial board, fostering transnational pragmatism research networks.