Gaspard Koenig, Paris — Freedom & Enlightenment Farming

Gaspard Koenig, Paris — Freedom & Enlightenment Farming

From Paris Calling by Worldcrunch

November 12, 2025 · 22 min

About this episode

Gaspard Koenig discusses his philosophical views on freedom, nature, and society while reflecting on his experiences in the countryside.

Gaspard Koenig is one of France’s most original public intellectuals — a philosopher, novelist, founder of the GenerationLibre think tank, and even a one-time presidential candidate. When he isn’t writing or debating ideas, Koenig can often be found tending to his garden and horses on a small farm in Normandy, exploring what he calls his “down-to-earth era.” For him, the countryside is not a retreat but a way to reflect on how humans truly connect with their environment. Speaking with Paris Calling, Koenig delves into the distinction between land and soil, his journey from a months-long horseback expedition retracing Montaigne’s path to his novel Humus, and his lifelong search for the deeper meanings of liberty — rooted in responsibility, interdependence, and a sense of belonging to both nature and society. This is Paris Calling, where each week we encounter a notable person from somewhere around the world. We are breaking new ground by bringing non-English interviews into English with the use of AI tools that allow us to translate our guest’s words, without changing their voice. Founded in 2011, Worldcrunch is a pioneering global news outlet that brings the world’s best…

People in this episode

Guest: Gaspard Koenig

Topics covered

  • freedom
  • enlightenment
  • philosophy
  • nature
  • society
  • responsibility

Keywords

  • Gaspard Koenig
  • freedom
  • philosophy
  • nature
  • society
  • GenerationLibre
  • Humus

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GenerationLibre, Worldcrunch

Books & works: Humus

Places: France, Normandy

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