Jean-Paul Enthoven

See also: Enthoven

Born in Mascara close to Oran the January 11th 1949, Jean-Paul Enthoven is resulting from a middle-class family whose chief is a businessman having made fortune in the real estate and the management of cinemas. In this Jewish family circle agnostic completion, its political socialization is carried out in a very republican atmosphere, attached to considerations morals like the defense of the human rights and finding itself in the political figure of a Clemenceau.

Its family is related to the Oranian intellectual elite, in particular with the philosopher André Bénichou, director of the Descartes course that many French academics attend during the Guerre of Algeria. Thus his/her parents become close to Pierre Nora and that this last assistance their son when he becomes boarder with the College Lakanal de Sceaux. Jean-Paul Enthoven côtoie then much the “family Nora”, Pierre Nora being then his “Cicéron”. But, after a passage to the Buffon college, it enters to the college Janson-to-Sailly where it follows the courses of philosophy of Maurice Clavel. This last notices it among the heads of class and makes him meet Gabriel Marcel but especially Pierre Boutang whose influence plunges it a time in the “hatred of oneself”.

Leaving the Faculty of Letters with a license of History, it obtains, after its diploma of the Institut of political studies of Paris, a D.E.S. of public law and political science to the Faculty of Law of Paris. It then bound of friendship with Gilles Hertzog, by the means of Francoise Cachin, the woman of Pierre Nora. But if it is anchored on the left, it passes beside May 68 by preferring the literature to the ideological debates. Moreover, the readings which it carries out at Gallimard towards 1971/1972 are worth him to meet Raymond Aron. If he does not become a disciple about it, this last leads it to be detached very quickly from a Marxism to which readings had led it to adhere. And it is defined as spinozo-nietzschéen when, in 1973, he becomes assistant of Maurice Duverger in the Sorbonne.

Assisting as from 1973, it becomes acquainted with an aggregate young person of philosophy just returned of Bengladesh, Bernard-Henri Levy. Falling under the charm from old the normalien, it presents it to the autumn 1974 with his friend Gilles Hertzog who thus takes part in the transitory daily newspaper the Unforeseen one (January-February 1975). In spite of the failure of the newspaper of Bernard-Henri Levy, the bonds of friendship of the trio are reinforced around this last at the point to appear as a true “phratry” where Jean-Paul Enthoven would be, according to its own terms, “rather the Minister of Interior Department of Bernard, and Gilles, his secretary of foreign affairs”.

In parallel, its bonds with Pierre Nora lead it to come into contact with Jean Daniel and equips it with the Nouvel Observateur.

From December 1973, it thus publishes there criticisms of tests of philosophy and social sciences. At this point in time in 1975, he does not appreciate to be solicited by Maurice Duverger like character reference in a lawsuit on his Vichyist past. He thus gives his resignation of teaching and turns to journalism. The departure of Olivier Todd (May 1977) then gives him the possibility of being established with the Nouvel Observateur. Charged with covering the intellectual debates, it deals thus of the interviews with the great intellectual figures, of the reports of tests of political or philosophical nature, and with the whole of the topicality which touches the intellectual medium.

Near to Maurice Clavel - that it replaces episodically for its televisual heading -, it less is not very appreciated of it by the director of the drafting of the newspaper which consults it for the choice of a word of its leading article or on the debates in progress in Parisian microcosm. With its two last, it actively supports the media blossoming of the “New philosophers” and their head of file, his friend Bernard-Henri Levy. Dedicating to this last an immense admiration, it has with him bonds so strong that it only fails to them “to be homosexual to mix and to melt itself” even more than it are it. Witness with his marriage (like Gilles Hertzog), lunching each Saturday morning in his company, it shares his passions like his concern of esthetic appearance. From the beginning of the year 1980, it takes leading responsabilities more and more. Thus, in 1983, it takes the direction of the collection “Biblio-Tests” founded by Bernard-Henri Levy at Grasset. In 1984, it leaves its functions of assistant of the drafting as a chief of the Nouvel Observateur to direct Hatchet-Arts person. But two years later, it returns as leading director at Grasset and Fasquelle. Since about fifteen years it is to advise leading weekly magazine the Point where it publishes in particular literary criticisms. Jean-Paul Enthoven wrote many books Aurore (Grasset); Saturn Children (Grasset); The last woman (Grasset)

He is the father of 3 children: Raphaël, aggregate of philosophy, chronicler in the Campus emission, (which will marry Justine Levy, the girl of her best friend Bernard-Henri Levy), Julien and Mathilde. He married Corinne Pécas on December 4th, 1981.

In November 2007 it takes part in the turning of Cinéman, a film of his friend Yann Moix.

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