Sophie Roux

Sophie Roux is a Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at École Normale Supérieure, Paris, and directs the research team La République des savoirs (CNRS-Collège de France-ENS). Her work focuses on early modern science and philosophy, particularly Cartesianism and anti-Cartesianism in France. She has held positions at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin), Centre Alexandre-Koyré (Paris), and the University of Grenoble.

Education:

• Philosophy, École Normale Supérieure
• History of Science, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales

Sophie’s research bridges the history of scientific thought, philosophical epistemology, and material culture. She examines how Cartesian physics influenced French intellectual debates (1637–1691), analyzing controversies around concepts like subtle matter, vortices, and the pineal gland. Her method emphasizes pluralistic narratives, integrating both canonical and obscure figures to map the fragmented reception of Cartesianism.

Her recent publications explore the intersection of physics, metaphysics, and censorship in early modern France. She utilizes archival research to reconstruct forgotten scientific biographies, such as Jacques du Roure’s contributions to Cartesian philosophy.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2021–2022)