French Literature Reviews - 2026
É. Groleau, L'oubli de la vie. Critique de la raison parodique
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Étienne Groleau,
L'oubli de la vie. Critique de la raison parodique,
Liber, 2018. EAN13: 9782895786283.
We are the descendants of Don Quixote. Excessively aware of the emptiness of existence and disillusioned by a world that disconnects us from our own emotional life, we choose to flee into the imaginary. We prefer fiction to reality, denying reason in order to embrace our own truth.
Indeed, despite its dazzling and undeniable achievements, modernity—characterized by a scientific pursuit of truth—appears to be the target of a growing wave of criticism. Science, forgetting that its ultimate purpose is humanity, quickly loses its way, forfeits all truth, and neutralizes everything. Capitalism is reaching its limits, the foundations of democracy are being questioned, and the Earth itself seems no longer willing to accommodate our ambitions. The human species is growing weary. The rejection of science, reason, logic, and plain facts that we witness increasingly today—whether in pseudo-scientific publications, from the lips of populist politicians, or in our everyday conversations—is an emotional response to a dehumanized reason.
Nevertheless, asserting the primacy of emotion over reason is neither a rejection of reason nor a call to subjectivism, but simply a description of who we are. Reason must guide emotion in the same way that laws must frame the actions of citizens—not to extinguish passion and restrict its fluctuations, but rather to support it and provide it with structure.
How, then, can we reconcile reason and emotion, knowing that reason alone is groundless and emotion alone is blind? This is the central theme of this book, which makes a compelling case for keeping reason integrated with the rest of the human experience. Reason must be logos—a prudent, internal dialogue that harmonizes logic and emotion to fully illuminate our lives.
Étienne Groleau holds a PhD in Philosophy from Laval University (Canada). He teaches at the Cégep Beauce-Appalaches in Quebec.
The critique of modernity as a project that risks alienating the individual from lived experience has long been a central concern in Western philosophy. This work engages with broader debates regarding the limits of Enlightenment rationalism and the perceived dehumanization inherent in a purely scientific or technical pursuit of truth. Readers interested in the intersection of philosophy and modern cultural malaise may find this analysis relevant to their own inquiries.
The text discusses a re-evaluation of reason, suggesting that it should function as a bridge between logic and the subjective reality of human existence. By defining reason as a form of logos—an internal dialogue that structures rather than suppresses passion—the author addresses the divide between empirical knowledge and emotional truth. This perspective relates to ongoing discussions about the role of intellectual traditions in addressing the crises of democracy and environmental sustainability, advocating for a holistic approach where reason remains integrated with the human experience.