Volume 16 is not a "Freud-bashing" exercise, nor is it an attempt to clinically debunk psychoanalysis as a therapeutic practice. Patrick Frémeaux of Frémeaux & Associés explains that this would be a profound misunderstanding of Onfray's aim. The purpose of these lectures is to .
The 16th volume, subtitled (released by Frémeaux & Associés in 2011, P 2011), is the second part of a two-volume examination of the father of psychoanalysis. While Volume 15 established the groundwork for the critique, Volume 16 delivers the devastating, point-by-point deconstruction of Freudian dogma. This is not a historical biography, but a systematic analysis of Freud as a thinker—his methods, his mystical beliefs, his conceptual flaws, and the quasi-religious structure of his doctrine. Onfray's aim, as he repeatedly states, is not to judge the therapeutic efficacy of psychoanalysis, but to "analyze from the philosophical point of view one of the master thinkers of the discipline: Sigmund Freud".
Clocking in at multiple hours of dense, structured content, the "Full" version allows listeners to deep-dive into the material during long commutes, walks, or study sessions. Major Thinkers Explored in the Audio Series
: Onfray intentionally avoids dense, elitist academic jargon. His spoken style is clear, pedagogical, and passionate, making complex philosophical systems accessible to everyday listeners. Volume 16 is not a "Freud-bashing" exercise, nor
Many volumes are indexed on major audio platforms under "Michel Onfray." Conclusion
Philosophy students, intellectual historians, cultural critics, and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of Western thought.
One of Onfray’s persistent themes, which peaks in this audio, is that most atheists (Hitchens, Dawkins) are grim, rationalistic, and boring. The true atheist, as exemplified by Diderot and Sade, is a sensualist. Without a divine judge, we are free to maximize pleasure. Audio 16 contains Onfray’s famous line: "Atheism is not a sadness, it is a solar affirmation of the immanent." The 16th volume, subtitled (released by Frémeaux &
Michel Onfray has spent decades challenging the traditional Western philosophical canon. His massive project, La Contre-Histoire de la Philosophie (The Counter-History of Philosophy), systematic dismantles the standard narrative taught in universities. While the print volumes are highly celebrated, the audio format—specifically the comprehensive releases like La Contre-Histoire de la Philosophie Audio 16 Full —offers an immersive, lecture-style intellectual journey. This collection captures the raw energy of Onfray’s public lectures at the Université Populaire de Caen, making complex, subversive philosophy accessible to anyone with a pair of headphones. The Philosophy Behind the Counter-History
The central thesis is that these authors provide the most logical and rigorous defense of Christian theology because they refuse to compromise with modernity (democracy, human rights, secularism). Onfray presents them as the "avenging angels" of the metaphysical system he has spent the previous 15 volumes dismantling.
The intellectual landscape of contemporary France is uniquely shaped by its public philosophers, but few have launched an assault on the traditional canon as systematically as Michel Onfray. Through his monumental project, La Contre-histoire de la philosophie (The Counter-History of Philosophy), Onfray seeks to dismantle the official narrative of Western thought. Volume 16 of this massive audio series represents a critical late stage in this project, focusing on the radical shifts, existential crises, and marginalized thinkers of the modern era. Onfray's aim, as he repeatedly states, is not
Thinkers who took Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of religion and morality to advocate for liberation rather than fascism or nihilism.
Onfray treats Freud not as a rigorous scientist, but as a "philosophical autobiographer" who projected his personal neuroses onto a universal theory.
This 16th volume is crucial for understanding Onfray’s broader project. He seeks to break the "Platonized tendency" of academia, which he believes has favored abstract, idealistic, and often somatophobic (body-fearing) philosophy. By tackling a titan like Freud, Onfray is not merely critiquing a psychologist; he is challenging the very framework of modern humanism and its reliance on the "unconscious" as a new kind of deity. 5. Summary of the Volume 16 Content (Full)
Read the primary texts mentioned to form your own opinion.