My research focuses on ancient literary theory and on the early reception of Greek poets. I am interested in the emergence of fundamental poetic concepts (fiction, persona, etc.) and the various exegetic approaches that were applied to the text by ancient readers, such as allegoresis and etymological explanations.

My current research falls into 3 main domains:

1. Socrates and the Socratic writings of Xenophon. Following the publication of the 3-volume Mémorables in the Collection des Universités de France (2000-2011), I have been continuing my research into the Socratic writings of Xenophon and also working on several studies dealing with other works by Xenophon, in particular Hiero.
    
2. Dialectic and refutation. Building on my annotated translation of Aristotle's Sophistical refutations (1995), I have been continuing my research into dialectic and the practice of refutation (elenchos) by Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle and later authors, in particular Proclus and Clement of Alexandria. Soon I intend to combine in one volume all the articles I have written on Dialectic and refutation since 1990. I am also preparing a new edition of the Greek text of Aristotle's Sophistical refutations for the Collection des Universités de France.
    
3. The ideal of self-sufficiency (autarkeia) in Greek philosophy. Although the concept of self-sufficiency (autarkeia) holds a central place in the ethical, political, theological and metaphysical reflection of Greek philosophers, to date it has not received all the attention it deserves. I will soon be completing a book dealing with the ideal of autarky as seen by Socrates and the Cynics. The purpose of the book is to re-examine the relationship between Socrates and the Cynics, taking as a central theme the conception of autarky by Plato's Socrates, Xenophon's Socrates, and the Cynics.

My main research interests lie in the fields of ancient ethics and psychology, and extend into Hellenistic and Roman philosophy. They are divided into 2 main areas:

• The future of what commentators call moral intellectualism in ancient morals and the so-called akrasia question. My work deals with the dysfunctions of practical rationality and the introduction and development of a vocabulary (prohairèsis, boulèsis/voluntas, hexis/habitus, propatheia, etc.) for thinking about the different modalities of non-virtuous human action.
• Re-evaluation of the concept of naturalism in the field of ancient ethics.