Luc Foisneau

Luc Foisneau

Chercheur associé (Philosophie politique)

Luc Foisneau is a political philosopher specialising in the history of sovereignty and goverment, with a special interest in Hobbes. His present research focuses on the origins of contemporary theories of justice, and the preparation of the French version of the Dictionary of Seventeenth-Century French Philosophers.

Axe(s) de recherche: Nation and Globalization

Luc Foisneau joined the MFO in july 2003, having previously worked in Paris in a CNRS research team, where his studies focused mainly on Hobbes and French philosophy. He has developped a long-lasting programme around a Dictionary of Seventeenth-Century French Philosophers, initially published in London and New York in 2008; the French version is to be published in 2013 with numerous additional entries.

Between 2003 and 2006, while a researcher at the MFO, he was also a Research associate at the Department of Politics and International Relations, where he organized two research seminars, respectively with with Andrew Hurrell and Daniel Butt.

As French scientist in charge of a European Training Network on Applied Global Justice, he organized a conference on Global justice at the MFO in May 2005, and contributed to 9 conferences throughout Europe.

His research at the EHESS, which he has developped in a series of research seminars since 2006, studies various aspects of contemporary theories of justice. In 2011-12, the seminar focused on  Theories of justice and the right to freedom. During that period, he has published a book on Sovereignty and Government (from Machiavel to Rousseau).

Books

Governo e Soberiana. O pensamento politico moderno de Maquiavel a Rousseau. Porto Alegre. Linus Editores. 2009. 200 pp.

Hobbes et la toute-puissance de Dieu. Paris. Presses universitaires de France. 2000. 422pp.

Edited volumes

Ed. Dictionary of Seventeenth-Century French Philosophers. London. New York. Thoemmes-Continuum. 2008. 2 vols. 1314 p.

Ed. with  D. Thouard. De la violence à la politique. Kant et Hobbes. Paris. Vrin. 2005. 252 p.

New critical perspectives on Leviathan upon the 350th anniversary of its publication. Nuove prospettive critiche sul Leviatano di Hobbes nel 350° anniversario di pubblicazione. Ed. with G. Wright. Franco Angeli. Collana di filosofia. 2004.

Leviathan After 350 Years. Ed. with T. Sorell. Oxford. Clarendon press. Mind association occasional series. 2004. 308 pp. (http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926461-9)

L'efficacia della volontà nel XVI e XVII secolo, with P.F. Adorno. Roma. Edizioni di storia et letteratura. 2002. 208 pp.

La découverte du principe de raison. Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibniz. Paris. Presses universitaires de France. 2001. 204 pp.
Politique, droit et théologie chez Bodin, Grotius et Hobbes. Paris. Kimé. 1997. 314pp

Articles

'Hobbes y la autoridad de la ley', Derechos y Libertades (Revista de filosofia del derecho, y derechos humanos, Madrid), 17 (2007), p. 57-70.

'Gouverner selon la volonté générale: la souveraineté selon Rousseau et les théories de la raison d'État', Les Études philosophiques, 4(2007), p. 463-483.

'Que reste-t-il de l'état de nature de Hobbes derrière le voile d'ignorance de Rawls ?', Les Études philosophiques, 4(2006), p. 439-460; Version anglaise: 'What is left of Hobbes's State of Nature behind Rawls's Veil of Ignorance ?', Estudos Juridicos (Publication du Centre d'études juridiques d'Unisinos, San Leopoldo, Brésil), 40-1(2007), p. 22-30.

'Beyond the Air-pump: Hobbes, Boyle and the Omnipotence of God', in L. Foisneau, G. Wright (eds). New critical perspectives on Leviathan upon the 350th anniversary of its publication. Rivista di storia della filosofia. Special issue. 2004/1, p. 33-49.

Book chapters

'Elements of fiction in Hobbes's system', in R. Scholar, A. Tadié (eds), Fiction and the Frontiers of Knowledge, Ashgate, 2010, p. 122-144.

'Security as A Norm in Hobbes's Theory of War: A Critique of Schmitt's Interpretation of Hobbes's Approach to International Relations', in O. Asbach, P. Schroeder (ed.), War, the State and International Law in Seventeenth-Century Europe, Ashgate, 2010, p. 163-180.

'A Farewell to Leviathan: Foucault and Hobbes on Power, Sovereignty and War', in G.A.J. Rogers, T. Sorell, J. Kraye (eds), Insiders and Outsiders in Seventeenth-Century Philosophy, New York/London, Routledge, 2010, p. 207-222.

 'Leviathan's Theory of Justice', in L. Foisneau, T. Sorell (eds.), Leviathan after 350 years, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 2004, pp. 105-122.