France didn’t have a philosophy festival—until “Philosophia” was created in 2007 by Eric Le Collen in Saint Emilion, France. BNP Paribas was the first private partner to say yes to his request for support, and now, more than 5,000 visitors attend the event.

This year, Poesis was held on May 29 and 30, using a light-hearted format designed to arouse the public’s curiosity and to increase the awareness of all and sundry about philosophy.

The concept? To spend a weekend celebrating the pleasures of learning and of understanding, by attending philosophical lectures and participating in workshops and in sensory and taste “experiences” in a variety of locations representative of the prestigious wine-producing city of Saint Emilion. The city was alive with debates, wine and food demonstrations, public lectures, exhibitions, and performances.

A long list of prestigious speakers took us with them on an exploration of a wide range of themes: “The Senses”, “Happiness” and “The World and the Universe”, followed by “The Imagination”. There were multiple approaches and unexpected subjects: “imagination and reason”, “imagination without images”, “imagination, a double illusion” and “are today’s realities yesterday’s utopias?” Philosophia 2010 was a great success, bringing people together to explore the vast topics of imagination, understanding and learning.