IHPST Research Seminar | First Session Winter 2026

You are cordially invited to attend the Winter 2026 Research Seminar Series of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, organized by Associate Professor Joseph Berkovitz

Constance de Font-Réaulx (IHPST-Department of History, University of Toronto) will present:

Scarcity Narratives and Water Scarcity in Early Modern Paris (1660s-1730s)

In-Person Event

This paper examines how the governance of drinking water in early modern Paris emerged from a specific historical construction of “scarcity.” It argues that water scarcity was not a permanent or natural condition but a narrative strategically mobilized by municipal and royal authorities—most notably in the reforms of the 1660s and 1670s under Louis XIV and Colbert—to expand municipal power, reorganize administrative procedures, and redefine rights over water in Paris and its surrounding villages. Through annual inspections and record‑keeping requirements, and the regulation of water privileges, the 1672 ordinance transformed water supply into a municipal responsibility akin to a public service.

Participants are expected to read the paper in advance. To request a copy, please email the address listed below.