Abstract

In this article, the author wishes to give an overview of the thought and work of Tzvetan Todorov, a Bulgarian philosopher who emigrated to France in 1963. Distinguished representative of the contemporary intellectual scene, his figure remains elusive, due to the multidisciplinary nature of his approach and the variety of themes he touchs. Former member of French structuralism, Todorov deviates gradually from the blueprint of structuralist thought to achieve a neo-humanism that finds echoes in contemporary French philosophy. This study intends to chart the parable of this personal and intellectual path, and to explain the peculiarities of this style. The attention to the central event of alterity in the constitution of human nature is framed in Todorov’s works through an original writing method and a strong ethical reflection full of suggestions coming from several disciplines