Henri Stephanou
After twenty years in industry, since 2017 I spend two-thirds of my time researching topics in the philosophy of science and technology. In December 2023, I obtained my doctorate in philosophy under the supervision of Pr. Pierre Wagner, at the IHPST (Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology), a laboratory of the University Paris-1 Panthéon-Sorbonne / CNRS, with the following dissertation: "Reasoning with machines: is programming a form of knowledge?"
I am a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, and an agrégé in philosophy.
Publications
« "Cette bonne vieille intelligence artificielle" : désuétude et survivance de l’hypothèse computationnelle de l’esprit ». ("Good-old Fashioned Artificial Intelligence": abandonment and Survival of the Computational Hypothesis of the Mind). Philosophia Scientiæ, 26, nᵒ 1 (2022): 3‑21.
Technique et Méthode chez Aristote (Art and Method in Aristotle). Revue de Philosophie Ancienne, 39, n°1 (2021): 25-70. DOI : 10.3917/rpha.391.0025.
About the “Trinity Thesis” Regarding the Ontology of Computer Programs. Philosophy & Technology, 33, no 2 (2020): 323‑30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-019-00368-5.
Conference Communications
Automating the CEO? November 2023, AI and Transformations of Work Conference, Grenoble.
Computing, viewed from Dewey's Logic. August 2022, European Pragmatism Conference, London.
Techne between Theory and Practice: A survey, from Aristotle to Kant. June 2021, SPT Conference. (Society for the Philosophy of Technology - UTC Compiègne - Université Catholique de Lille).
The two sides of Design and Implementation. October 2019, HAPOC Conference (History and Philosophy of Computing), Bergamo.
Declarative and procedural knowledge. August 2019, 16th CLMPST (Conference for the Logic, Method and Philosophy of Science and Technology), Prag.
Epistemic Opacity and Understanding. November 2018, 4th SAS Conference (Science and Art of Simulation), Stuttgart.
Programs as Tools of Knowledge. February 2018, HAPOC Conference (History and Philosophy of Computing), Oxford.
Invitations at seminars
Machine learning: the end of programming? December 2023, rencontres de l'Observatoire de l'IA, Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Systematicity. November 2023, séminaire Algorythmes, IHPST - Université de de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Working Procedures and IT procedures. Foundations of a complex relationship. Février 2021, séminaire HEPIC, IHPST - Université de Paris-1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
CV
2018-2023
PhD at University of Paris-1 Panthéon Sorbonne, under the direction of Pierre Wagner: "Reasoning with machines: Is programming a form of knowledge?"
2012-2017
Essilor. Chief Operating Officer Europe, in charge of production, logistics, IT, Finance and HR.
1997-2012
Boston Consulting Group. Consultant and afterwards Managing Partner and Director at the Paris Office.
1994-1997
Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris. Agrégation de Philosophie, 1996.
1990-1992
Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau.
Other academic engagements
2021-
Member of the Council and Treasurer of the Commission for the History and Philosophy of Computing (HAPOC)
2017-2023
Active Member of french National Agency Research project PROGRAMme, directed by Liesbeth de Mol (CNRS).
2013-2016
Board Member of Université Paris-IV Sorbonne