PHILO AUX BAINS

Philosophy cafés have been held at the Bains des Pâquis for many years. Their aim is not only to introduce the general public to the thinking of numerous writers, scientists, philosophers, researchers and artists from Geneva, Switzerland and abroad, but also and above all to engage them in dialogue with the public.

The arrival of Covid-19, followed by confinement, forced us to completely rethink our formula. During the lockdown, we organized live webcasts during which the public could interact directly with the guest from a distance, asking questions via the mediator.

During deconfinement, we took the best of the two previous formulas, offering meetings in which the public could participate either directly at the Bains des Pâquis, or remotely via the Internet.

Through contemporary themes that seem to us to be of the utmost importance (feminism, ecology, ethics, health, transhumanism, new technologies, and many others), we aim to nurture citizen reflection by proposing debates that are both rich in content and accessible to as many people as possible. Given that the world is undergoing major changes, shaken by Fake News, conspiracy theories and other alternative facts, and increasingly divided between different groups who no longer have the opportunity to sit down together to talk and reflect, this approach seems more important than ever.

Philo aux Bains 2025: Program

The environmental cost of happiness with Gaël Brulé

Saturday, January 11 at 10:30 a.m. – View the online discussion

In a world where consumption is often synonymous with well-being, what are the environmental consequences of our choices? And above all, is it possible to redefine happiness in a more sober, planet-friendly way?

In his book Le coût environnemental du bonheur, sociologist and researcher Gaël Brulé explores the links between our individual aspirations and their ecological impact. Combining philosophical reflection and sociological analysis, he suggests ways of rethinking happiness in the light of environmental challenges.

In this café-philo, we’ll be discussing key questions: is our definition of happiness compatible with a world of limited resources? How can modern societies evolve towards sustainable models of well-being? And what concrete solutions can be implemented to reduce the environmental cost of our quest for happiness?

Trained as an engineer, Gaël Brulé is a sociologist and professor of environmental health at the University of Applied Sciences in Geneva. He has worked in sociology on happiness. His research focuses on the links between well-being and social, institutional and ecosystem conditions. He is co-founder and editor-in-chief of the journal Sciences & Bonheur.

Can press cartoons still say it all? with Gérald Hermann

Sunday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m.

Today, press cartoons, an incisive and irreverent form of expression, find themselves at a crossroads. Between the rise of explicit or implicit censorship, the reluctance of certain editorial offices to publish cartoons deemed controversial, and the misunderstandings generated by their out-of-context distribution on social networks, this art form seems more than ever to be questioning its role and scope. Is press cartooning still a pillar of freedom of expression? Can it continue to play its role as a critical mirror in a society where offense is sometimes perceived as a crime?

To address these issues, we are delighted to welcome Gérald Herrmann, a renowned press cartoonist whose sharp wit and enlightened reflections explore the contradictions of our times. Through his experience, he will question the place of press cartoons in the 21st century, and the very meaning of humor and satire in our democracies.

“Press cartoons aren’t designed to please everyone; they’re there to challenge, provoke and, sometimes, disturb. It’s living proof of freedom of expression.” (Gérald Herrmann)

Degrowth, a myth? with Timothée Parrique

Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. – View the online discussion

What if the idea of infinite growth was just a myth? What if our societies could prosper while respecting the planet’s limits? Degrowth, often misunderstood, suggests another way forward, that of refocusing on the essentials, solidarity and simplicity. What does “living better with less” really mean? What changes does it imply for our lifestyles, our values and our economy?

To explore these questions, we are honored to welcome Timothée Parrique, economist and leading author on degrowth, to the FIFDH. His seminal work, Ralentir ou périr : L’économie de la décroissance, questions our obsession with GDP and calls for a profound transformation of our relationship with consumption, work and nature.

“Degrowth is not recession, but an invitation to rethink what makes a successful life and a sustainable society.” (Timothée Parrique)

The animal and us with Kaoutar Harchi

Saturday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m.

What makes us human? Why and how have we established a boundary with the animal? And what does this separation reveal about our societies, our hierarchies and our violence?

In Ainsi l’animal et nous, sociologist and writer Kaoutar Harchi examines how we have constructed the figure of the animal as an inferior, exploitable, killable being – and how this same logic has served, throughout history, to justify the exclusion and domination of certain human groups: women, racial minorities, the working classes. For if we animalize animals, we have also animalized certain humans, the better to relegate them to the margins of the moral community.

Part theoretical analysis, part intimate reflection, Kaoutar Harchi’s book invites us to rethink our relationship with animality and violence, and to envisage new forms of justice and coexistence.

This meeting, organized as part of the Histoire et Cité festival in collaboration with Les Indépendantes, will be an opportunity to explore these crucial questions with the author, in relation to history, philosophy and contemporary social struggles.

Artificial intelligence, knowledge and society with Monsieur Phi

Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing our relationship with knowledge, work and machines. Between fascinating promises and legitimate fears, it is redefining the way we apprehend the world, thought and even our own humanity. Are we witnessing a cognitive revolution? Can AI really think, understand or know? And what impact will these advances have on society and our daily lives?

In the company of Mr. Phi, a well-known philosopher, Youtuber and popularizer, we’ll be looking at the major challenges of AI, in relation to knowledge, robotization and our relationship with machines. What place does the human being still have in the face of ever more powerful systems? What does it mean to “understand” in a world where algorithms produce knowledge without any real consciousness? And how far can we automate decisions without losing control?

A fascinating exchange that will lead us to question the philosophical, ethical and political implications of a future where intelligence may no longer be exclusively human.

School adrift? with Philippe Favre

Sunday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m.

Schools in French-speaking Switzerland are going through a period of profound change: a growing number of pupils are completing their schooling without mastering fundamental knowledge, At the same time, more and more children are dropping out of school. At the same time, more and more children in Switzerland are dropping out of school.

Why do so many students struggle to acquire basic skills? Why are teachers increasingly demotivated? Are educational decision-makers too far removed from the realities on the ground? What concrete solutions can be envisaged to rectify the situation?

Philippe Favre, a historian and teacher since 1981, addresses these issues in his essay School adrift? Focus on solutions . Drawing on his 42 years of experience in public education and his role as a trainer for the introduction of information and communication technologies in Valais classrooms, he proposes some twenty concrete solutions to reconnect with excellence by reappropriating pedagogical engineering.

We invite you to a meeting with Philippe Favre to discuss the current challenges facing our education system and his suggestions for improvement. Parents, teachers, decision-makers and committed citizens are invited to take part in this constructive dialogue aimed at giving schools the means to fulfill their educational mission, which is essential to the proper functioning of our democracy.

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PHILO AUX BAINS

During the deconfinement, we took the best of the two previous formulas by offering Cafés-philo in which the public could participate either directly at the Bains des Pâquis, or remotely via the Internet.