Arbos was born to Philipe and Adèle Cantié in Mosset in the French Pyrenees and was educated at Arago College, Perpignan and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Khagne.
He joined the École normale supérieure in 1904 where his contemporary was Jule Romains.
He received a doctorate in 1923 and joined the University of Clermont-Ferrand.
His main work was on the pastoral life in the French Alps.
[2][3][4] Arbos married Édith Perouze in 1910 and they had a daughter, Lucienne.