Louis Althusser entered the École Normale Supérieure in 1939 before his education was interrupted by his capture in Vannes during the Second World War. A French philosopher who spent years as a prisoner of war in Germany, he returned to Paris to reshape political philosophy and Marxist theory through his rigorous academic career.
Academic Career at the École Normale Supérieure
After resuming his studies at the École Normale Supérieure in 1945, Althusser pursued the agrégation. In 1948, he began his tenure as a tutor at the institution, a role he maintained for thirty-five years. He later became the secretary of the literary school in 1954, where he organized conferences featuring prominent thinkers such as Gilles Deleuze and Jacques Lacan, significantly influencing a generation of students that included Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu.
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Althusser is widely associated with structural Marxism, though he remained critical of several aspects of structuralism itself. His theoretical work, including notable publications like Reading Capital, For Marx, and Philosophy and the Spontaneous Philosophy of the Scientists, focused on defending the scientific foundations of Marxism. He directed his arguments against empiricism, humanism, and reformist tendencies within communist organizations, while exploring the problems posed by ideology and the cult of personality.
Political Life and Later Years
A long-time member of the French Communist Party, Althusser maintained a complex relationship with the organization, acting as both an advocate and a critic of its policies. His later life was defined by severe mental health struggles. In 1980, he killed his wife, Hélène Rytmann. Following this, he was declared unfit for trial due to mental instability and was committed to a psychiatric facility for three years. He did little academic work thereafter and died in 1990.
Fast facts
- Born: 1918, Bir Mourad Rais
- Died: 1990, La Verrière
- Citizenship: France
- Education: Lycée du Parc and École Normale Supérieure
- Primary Fields: Epistemology, metaphysics, political philosophy
- Political Affiliation: French Communist Party
- Burial Site: Cimetière de Viroflay
Questions readers ask
What is Althusser's primary contribution to philosophy?
He is recognized for his structural Marxist approach, specifically his efforts to rigorously define the theoretical foundations of Marxism in works like Reading Capital and For Marx.
What were the circumstances of his death?
After strangling his wife, Hélène Rytmann, in 1980, he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. He died in 1990 while residing in La Verrière.
Achievements
- Notable work: Reading Capital (work level)
- Affiliated with École Normale Supérieure
- Educated at École Normale Supérieure
- Worked as philosopher, politician and university teacher
