René Berthelot (born 18 August 1872 in Sèvres, died 16 June 1960 in Paris) was a French philosopher, jurist and poet celebrated for his work in metaphysics and on political philosophy.
He studied at École normale supérieure from 1890, where he shared rooms with Léon Blum, André Beaunier and Célestin Bouglé.
[1] A professor at the University of Brussels from 1897 till 1907, he influenced the Belgian Eugène Dupréel with his teaching.
He was one of the founders of what is today known as “theory of law.” His works critiquing William James, Goethe and Nietzsche helped spread knowledge of these philosophers in France.
René Berthelot is the author of several hundred poems drawing on the traditions of Asia and the Islamic world, as well as on Dante, Shelley and Goethe.