Monique Canto-Sperber

Monique Canto-Sperber (born May 14, 1954) is a French philosopher whose works, translated into several languages, focus on ethics and contemporary political issues. Born in French Algeria, she has lived in France since 1964. She is an alumna of the École normale supérieure de jeunes filles, holding both Agrégée and PhD degrees in philosophy. She previously taught at the universities of Rouen and Amiens before becoming a Research Director at the CNRS in 1993. Canto-Sperber was a member of the Comité consultatif national d'éthique from 2001 to 2004 and served as its president from 2004 to 2007. She also hosted the radio program "Questions d'éthique" on France Culture. Her academic contributions include extensive work on ancient philosophy, particularly ethical theory and epistemology, with commented translations of Plato's dialogues. She has also been instrumental in introducing contemporary Anglo-American philosophical debates to France and edited a comprehensive dictionary of ethics. In political philosophy, her works analyze liberalism and international relations, exploring concepts like just war and global morality. Canto-Sperber served as the head of the École normale supérieure from 2005 to 2012, during which she implemented reforms aimed at enhancing its international standing and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. She was instrumental in the creation of the Paris Sciences et Lettres – Quartier latin (PSL) group and was elected its president in 2012. Her academic and leadership roles underscore her significant influence in both philosophical thought and higher education.