Paris Institute for Critical Thinking


The Paris Institute for Critical Thinking is a non-profit educational organization located in Paris, France, dedicated to promoting critical thinking through the humanities and arts. It offers university-quality courses alongside a variety of events such as lectures, conferences, and workshops. PICT also creates intellectual content for a global audience, including podcasts, blogs, videos, and through its publishing house, PICT Books. The institute emphasizes inclusivity, welcoming participants from diverse backgrounds and conducting all programs in English, fostering an accessible environment for learning and engagement.
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History

Established in 2018, PICT focuses on the humanities and arts, offering a range of academic activities such as courses, workshops, conferences, and public lectures.

Organizational Structure

The organization's co-founders include executive director Evrim Emir-Sayers, managing director Macha Matalaev, and editor-at-large David Selim Sayers. The administrative staff is entirely composed of volunteers, reflecting PICT's commitment to community involvement.

PICT Community

All supporters of PICT are integral to its community, which includes the PICT team, members of the association, participants who support in-person activities through enrollment fees, and an international audience that engages with PICT's books and online content.

Activities

The institute operates mostly in English and is dedicated to providing high-quality education accessible to the public regardless of their educational background. PICT also engages in public outreach via online journals and articles that are available in open-access format as well as through its imprint, PICT Books.
In 2022, the PICT website published a 25-page essay by co-founders David Selim Sayers and Evrim Emir-Sayers about the field of Turkish studies in Germany, which triggered intense controversy in the national media in Turkey.
In 2023, PICT participated in the successful campaign by Reporters Without Borders to secure the release of Franco-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi from prison in Afghanistan.

Partnerships

PICT fosters diverse partnerships at local, national, and international levels to enhance its mission and broaden its impact.