Right up there with the artists of Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame, one of the most enduring images of Paris is of the café-dwelling black-clad existentialist, smoking Gauloises and offering up the occasional bon mot.. But there’s more to Paris and philosophy than existentialism and a couple of overpriced cafés. So if you’re planning a trip to Paris and want to find out more, why not set aside a few hours and follow our walk through the Philosophers’ Rive Gauche.