Peter Sahlins

About the Author

Peter Sahlins is a distinguished historian specializing in early modern France, with a keen focus on the intersections of culture, science, and society. His groundbreaking scholarship explores how historical events shaped intellectual and social landscapes, drawing on meticulous archival research to illuminate overlooked aspects of the past. Sahlins's work challenges conventional narratives by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, particularly in the realm of human-animal relations and their broader implications for Enlightenment thought. A professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, he has influenced generations of scholars through his incisive analyses and eloquent prose. In his acclaimed book, 1668: The Year of the Animal in France (Zone Books), Sahlins vividly reconstructs a pivotal moment when debates over animal nature redefined French society, blending history with philosophical inquiry to reveal enduring tensions between reason and instinct.