On Monday, December 2, I had the pleasure of attending an exceptional event organized by Les Rencontres Perspectives: a musical conference on the keys to Stoic wisdom, hosted by André Manoukian and Frédéric Lenoir at the Théâtre Édouard VII.
The evening begins with a fascinating exchange between André Manoukian and Frédéric Lenoir: Is music a science or just a deceptive charm? According to Manoukian, music has the ability to make us escape from ourselves. Philosophy, on the other hand, according to Frédéric Lenoir, seeks to guide others, not to seduce them, but to help them better understand the world and themselves.
Frédéric Lenoir explains that, historically, the Epicureans believed that everything came from chance and that the world was chaotic, while the Stoics advocated an ordered world governed by a superior intelligence. It is in this order and rationality that the deepest truths of the universe are to be found.
André Manoukian, for his part, recalls the physicist Louis de Broglie, who in the 20th century demonstrated that light and even elementary particles have both wave and particle properties. This theory of particle duality is linked to the research of the musician and physicist Joël Sternheimer, who worked with de Broglie on particle vibrations and their connection to music.
Sternheimer is at the forefront of a discipline called genodics, which explores the harmonious relationships between living things and the sounds that nourish them. According to his work, it is possible to improve plant growth and animal health by exposing them to specific musical compositions.
As physics progresses, it is becoming increasingly clear that the order of particles is not the result of chance, but that there is an underlying structure that could ultimately explain the existence of multiple parallel universes.
Frédéric Lenoir, for his part, reminds us that the Stoics insisted on the importance of not being influenced by external events, but of cultivating an inner discernment, a capacity for clear reflection. The real challenge today, he believes, is to be able to discern the truth in the midst of prejudice and preconceived notions. To this end, the Stoics advocated starting early, in childhood, to develop this capacity for reflection, as Marcus Aurelius did at the age of 12. The Sève Association, founded by Frédéric Lenoir, teaches philosophy in schools and encourages young people to express their own ideas instead of repeating what they've heard.
Frédéric Lenoir emphasizes that philosophy should be a space for debate and dialogue, encouraging the exchange of ideas.
Music, once dominated by improvisation (like Chopin or Johann Sebastian Bach), gradually gave way to written composition to preserve creations. In the days of improvisation, Mozart used to say, "I'm looking for notes that like each other. Written composition," Manoukian explains, "is a way of not forgetting the original improvisation. Today, conservatories remind us of the importance of preserving and passing on the masterpieces of the past.
In philosophy, the process is reversed: we begin by studying the great thinkers of the past before developing our own thoughts. This is what the Stoics called "playing the score of life": understanding that everything is predetermined and that it's up to us to play our part harmoniously by accepting fate. For Marcus Aurelius, this acceptance of fate is essential to happiness, which lies in using our talents in the service of universal harmony.
Frédéric Lenoir quotes Nietzsche, who invites us to "say yes to life," even in its difficult moments, because it is in accepting our destiny that we find freedom. The real challenge is not to be in conflict with events that we cannot change. Accepting difficulties and using them as learning opportunities is the secret of inner peace. This concept of letting go also resonates with modern personal development practices.
The lecture continues with a deep reflection on music.
Greek Apollonian music is associated with the elevation of consciousness, while Dionysian music allows us to lose ourselves in order to regain an animal energy. Marcus Aurelius also believed in the power of dreams to overcome life's trials. He dreamed of himself with ivory shoulders to support his heavy responsibilities, and in his Pensées he gives great importance to the unconscious and intuition. Similarly, Descartes wrote the Discourse on Method after a dream.
The Discourse also evokes the idea that the entire universe is a living being in which everything is interconnected. Just as a musician sends out a vibration and receives the energy of his audience in return, each of us is part of a global "score. Every element of the universe has its place and function in this complex ecosystem.
Finally, throughout the conference, André Manoukian enchanted the audience with pieces of music played on the piano, sometimes improvised, that powerfully illustrated the ideas evoked.
Finally, Frédéric Lenoir presented his new project: the Maison de la Sagesse, a place designed to promote philosophy, wisdom and better thinking in order to live better.
Hugues ALARD