“Thierry Aymès engages in dialogue between philosophy and music to illuminate daily life with wisdom and humanity.”
Thierry Aymès
Thierry Aymès est philosophe, écrivain, musicien et conférencier. Né à Avignon en 1961, il a d'abord exercé comme professeur de philosophie pendant près de deux décennies avant de se consacrer pleinement à l'écriture, à la scène et à la transmission des idées. Porté par une vocation humaniste, il a toujours cherché à rendre la philosophie accessible au plus grand nombre. Son parcours académique l'a mené à étudier la philosophie et la psychanalyse, disciplines qu'il a ensuite enseignées dans le Gard. À partir des années 2010, il s'engage dans des expériences inédites : il anime des ateliers philosophiques en milieu carcéral et mène une immersion de plusieurs mois en EHPAD, expériences qui donneront naissance à des livres puissants et incarnés.
Musicien autodidacte, Thierry Aymès a travaillé avec de grands noms de la chanson française et composé plusieurs albums. Convaincu que la musique est un vecteur de mémoire et d'émotion, il développe « Philosong » et « Philoscène », deux dispositifs originaux qui associent la philosophie à la chanson et à la scène. Ces innovations pédagogiques l'ont conduit à présenter ses travaux à l'UNESCO lors de la Journée mondiale de la philosophie. Auteur prolifique, il a publié des essais, des récits et des ouvrages originaux mêlant réflexion philosophique et culture populaire, dont La philo en 50 chansons (2013), Sous la mémoire (2016) ou encore Textes en graines (2018). Ses écrits explorent des thèmes tels que le sens de la vie, la vulnérabilité, l'acte de penser ou encore le lien entre quotidien et sagesse.
Philosophe engagé, il revendique une approche à la fois exigeante et accessible. Loin d'un discours académique réservé aux initiés, il préfère ancrer ses interventions dans la réalité vécue, les expressions banales, les chansons populaires et les situations de soin ou d'enseignement. Son credo est clair : chacun est philosophe sans le savoir, et chacun peut s'approprier les outils de la pensée critique. Aujourd'hui, Thierry Aymès intervient comme conférencier en France et dans les pays francophones. Ses conférences, conçues comme de véritables expériences, mêlent réflexion, humour, musique et interaction avec le public. Elles invitent à explorer des thématiques universelles — amour, courage, relation à l'autre, gestion du stress, rapport au temps — avec profondeur et simplicité.
What is love?
- In this conference, Thierry Aymès invites his audience to rediscover a notion as universal as it is unknown: love. He first distinguishes the passionate love, often fleeting and consuming, from true love which builds and elevates.
- He then explores the three philosophical loves: Eros, the love of desire; Philia, friendship; and Agapè, unconditional love. This classification paves the way for a broader and nuanced understanding of human relationships.
- Thierry Aymès also sheds light on other forms of love, less known but equally essential, such as love for nature, humanity, or wisdom. He thus shows that love is not only a private matter, but a lever for social cohesion and collective flourishing.
- Finally, he tackles a rarely discussed subject: self-love. He demonstrates how necessary it is to love oneself in order to love another without manipulating them. This conference opens avenues for living more authentic and balanced relationships.
Courage in Everyday Life
- Courage est is often perceived as the realm of heroes or great figures in history. Yet, Thierry Aymès reminds us that it is above all a virtue of the everyday, accessible to everyone.
- He traces the history of courage in the philosophical tradition, from Socrates to Nietzsche, showing how this notion has shaped Western thought. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it.
- In a more concrete register, he illustrates how courage manifests in our lives: making a difficult decision, standing up for one's values, facing uncertainty. Everyone can recognize in their existence moments of silent bravery.
- Finally, he emphasizes the "first of all courages": the courage to be oneself. In a world of conformity and social pressure, Thierry Aymès invites us to rediscover this inner strength that allows us to live in accordance with our truth.
Fight stress!
- Stress has become one of the most widespread afflictions of our time. In this talk, Thierry Aymès analyzes its deep-seated causes: transformations in work, the frantic pace of society, requirements for performance.
- He explains stress from a dual perspective: physiological, showing s its effects on the body and health; and psychological, unveiling the mechanisms of anxiety and pressure. This double approach allows for a better understanding of why it affects so many individuals.
- Far from limiting itself to mere observation, he offers practical tools: breathing techniques, meditation exercises, and a renewed appreciation for the present moment. These simple yet effective methods help reduce stress's hold on our daily lives.
- His central message is clear: learning to tame stress, rather than simply endure it, can transform our relationship with ourselves, our work, and our relationships. This conference offers a breath of hope and serenity.
The philosophy of banal expressions
- Through this original conference, Thierry Aymès demonstrates that wisdom is sometimes hidden in the most ordinary words. The expressions of everyday life, often spoken mechanically, contain an unexpected depth.
- By tracing back to the roots of these phrases, he highlights the link between popular language and great philosophies. For example, the expression "my other half" directly evokes the Platonic myth of the androgyne.
- He takes his audience on a journey that spans the ages, from the presocratics to Camus, showing how ancient philosophies still irrigate our way of thinking and living.
- This conference, both serious and playful, gives the audience the keys to marvel again at language and to rediscover philosophy through their own everyday words.
Philosophers and tubes
- In an interactive and friendly format, Thierry Aymès offers a philosophical karaoke that combines popular songs and reflections philosophical.
- The principle is simple: to sing together iconic hits, then analyze their profound meaning. Thus, a song by Claude François engages in dialogue with Aristotle, a text by Léo Ferré with Jankélévitch, or a melody by Laurent Voulzy with Plato.
- This device allows philosophy to descend into the street, to anchor it in popular culture and make it accessible to those who think they are far from it.
- Each hit thus becomes an entry point to a fundamental philosophical concept. The experience is joyful, participative, and memorable — a unique way to think while singing.