France Culture has launched a new political program titled Les Philosophes au pouvoir, which explores the policies and actions various philosophers would implement if they were to lead a nation. The program, created by Laurence Devillairs, a teacher-researcher and lecturer at the Musée d'Orsay, will examine the decisions and values that philosophers such as Hannah Arendt, René Descartes, or Plato would defend, and what their thoughts might reveal about today’s most pressing issues. The series will be broadcast weekly, with the first episode focusing on Descartes and airing on September 19 next year from 16:00 to 17:00. Laurence Devillairs is an accomplished philosopher, holding multiple academic distinctions, including being a Normalienne, agrégée, and habilitated doctor in philosophy. She is also a producer of Impro Philo at the Théâtre du Lucernaire in Paris and the founder of the philosophy school Le 102. She has authored several books, including Vengeance. The Right Not to Forgive (Stock, 2026) and Socrates at the Museum. Why Art Makes Us Happy (Robert Laffont, forthcoming in November 2026). She is also a regular contributor to Le Fil philo, another program on France Culture. The program Les Philosophes au pouvoir is described as a unique political initiative that bridges contemporary issues with the ideas of great philosophers. It aims to make philosophy more accessible and relevant by showing how the thoughts of historical thinkers can influence our understanding of individual and collective choices in modern society. By connecting today's debates with philosophical traditions, the series seeks to offer new perspectives on current events and governance. Each episode will feature a different philosopher, exploring their core ideas and how they might translate into real-world policies. The program will not only highlight the historical context of these philosophers' works but also examine how their principles could be applied to today’s challenges, such as social justice, technology, and environmental policy. This approach is intended to spark public interest in philosophy and encourage deeper reflection on the values that guide political decision-making.