François Recanati

François Recanati is a distinguished Professor holding the Chair of Philosophy of Language and Mind at Collège de France, where he leads significant research initiatives at the intersection of analytical philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science. His work centers on the philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, with particular emphasis on mental representation and indexical thought.

• Principal Investigator of ERC-funded project 'Mental Files: New Foundations' (2024-2029)
• Director of 'Mind and Language' team at Jean-Nicod Institute (CNRS/ENS/EHESS)
• Lead researcher on ANR-funded project 'Essential Indexicality and Thoughts about Experience' (2023-2025)

Recanati's research primarily focuses on the mental files framework, which examines how we think about particulars through mental representations whose reference depends on environmental relations rather than descriptive content. His work addresses foundational questions about identity and persistence conditions for mental files, seeking to resolve what he identifies as a 'foundational crisis' in the framework. He has significantly contributed to understanding indexicality, phenomenal consciousness, and the transparency of mental contents.

His influential publications include the books 'Mental Files' (OUP 2012) and 'Mental Files in Flux' (OUP 2016), which have shaped contemporary debates in philosophy of mind. A recent special issue of the journal Klēsis (2025) was dedicated to his work, featuring contributions from leading scholars in the field.

• Gay-Lussac Humboldt Prize (2024)
• Extensive collaborative network across European institutions
• Regular contributions to major philosophy journals and conferences

Recanati actively mentors doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, including recent addition Kyle Landrum to his ERC project team. He also collaborates on joint postdoctoral positions, such as the one with University Grenoble-Alpes focusing on applications of the mental file framework in philosophy of perception. His research program continues to evolve through symposia and international collaborations, with an upcoming symposium at the SoPhA Congress in Nantes University (July 2025) dedicated to 'Modes of presentation, Concepts & Mental Files'.