Jean-Marc Narbonne: A philosophical approach to our era

Jean-Marc Narbonne is a philosophy professor at Université Laval who has spent decades studying Greek thought and its influence on the modern world. A fount of knowledge about democracy, he offers a crucial historical lens for analyzing today’s thorny political issues and explains how the fathers of Greek philosophy can provide an intellectual bulwark to help us better understand our era. 

Dr. Narbonne has a longstanding passion for public affairs. He began his university journey in political science before a growing interest in the foundations of our civilization steered him toward philosophy. His work is driven by a quest for truth, which he likens to a healthy obsession. “The truth is hard to pinpoint,” he admits, “but we can get close.” 

A celebrated translator of Plotinus 

A Ulyssian academic journey led Dr. Narbonne to Paris for his PhD and Munich for his postdoc. In Europe, he specialized in ancient philosophy, immersing himself in Neoplatonism and making a name for himself translating Plotinus. Upon returning to Quebec in the early 1990s, he joined the faculty of philosophy at Université Laval as an assistant professor in ancient philosophy, serving as dean between 1995 and 2002. He also founded the Zêtêsis collection, which focuses on the history of philosophy and current philosophical themes and debates, with the university’s publishing house.  

His research-driven mindset positions him as an exceptional figure in the field of philosophy. “Jean-Marc is a Hellenist in the strictest sense of the word, who, at some point, experienced a democratic awakening,” notes his friend Olivier Contensou, who completed his PhD under Dr. Narbonne’s supervision. The pair casually cite Aristotle and Plato, as though their texts haven’t aged a day – still helping us make sense of the modern world. “Philosophical reflection is always, at least in part, a historical reflection,” notes Dr. Narbonne, Canada Research Chair in Critical Antiquity and Emerging Modernity. Some questions, such as about fairness and the good, are timeless, but the texts are understood differently across different eras, he says. 

On risks to democracy 

What makes a (good) philosopher? According to Dr. Narbonne, the key is intellectual integrity and an ability to break away from ideological trends, to think for oneself. “A good philosopher recognizes when they are wrong, asks the right questions, and adjusts their reasoning to achieve the best proposition possible,” he says. In short, it takes critical thinking – a concept he studies in Greek thought, examining its influence in the contemporary era. “The Greeks remind us that collective deliberation bears more fruit: three minds are better than two, and two are better than one,” he notes. “Being able to question assumptions, examine them and test their validity – that fundamental mindset comes from Greek tradition.”   

Dr. Narbonne is eager to discuss his favourite subject: democracy, “a way of life” characterized by straight talk, and a “habit” we fall into almost unconsciously as we live it, albeit with limits. “In Athens, you could criticize anything and anyone, even a politician, but never democracy itself.” Citing Protagoras, Dr. Narbonne clarifies that the democratic system relies on a widespread acceptance of its own legitimacy. “That’s the logic behind collective life. We all make an initial pact – to respect the laws that govern us. This pact cannot be broken.”  

But what happens if the people’s representative turns to tyranny? That would be “the epitome of horror,” Dr. Narbonne replies. In ancient Athens, the common remedy was ostracism: removing an overly powerful person or group to prevent them from becoming tyrants. Dr. Narbonne prefers to take a philosophical approach in the face of modern upheaval. “The story isn’t over, you know. We are undeniably living through challenging times, but the score hasn’t been settled yet.”  

Popularization and collaboration 

After more than three decades of teaching, and multiple accolades – including a 2024 SSHRC Impact Awards Gold Medal  – under his belt, Dr. Narbonne has nothing left to prove to his peers. His focus has shifted to sharing his passion for civic debate with the general public. After creating a web series, an Instagram account, and a documentary on the Sophists, he’s set on writing a book about democracy for a general audience.        

Dr. Narbonne is also known for his ability to build bridges between institutions and researchers. Most recently, he helmed an international project with more than 30 researchers and collaborators from universities across Quebec, Brazil, France and Germany called “Étranger.es, exclu.es et dissident.es en démocratie: histoire et perspectives” (Democracy’s outliers, outcasts, and dissidents: history and perspectives). Cégep Édouard-Montpetit is among the project’s collaborators due to the involvement of Marc Lamontagne, a professor and researcher in philosophy – and Dr. Narbonne’s former student. The CÉGEP also works in partnership with the UNESCO Chair in Studies of Philosophic Foundations of Justice and Democracy, founded by Dr. Narbonne’s former professor, Josiane Boulad-Ayoub. “These partnerships have forged a relationship between the CÉGEP and the university, between professors and former students,” says Marc Lamontagne.  

If a philosopher’s job is to shape minds, Jean-Marc Narbonne achieves this mission by combining knowledge-sharing with popular education. “Democratic life is complicated,” he concludes. “The answers aren’t always easy. Education is needed. For me, democracy is a matter of human dignity.”