Institute of France is a group of five learned societies that are encouraged and supported by the French government. Each society fosters a branch of learning. The institute gives yearly prizes for the best work in each field. Established by the French constitution of 1795, the institute was formed by four existing learned societies. A fifth group was permanently founded in 1832. The institute’s headquarters are in Paris. Its five branch societies are:
The French Academy,
founded in 1635, acts as an authority in establishing the grammar and vocabulary of the French language and promotes guidelines for its usage. The 40 members of the academy are referred to as the Forty Immortals (see French Academy ).
The Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres,
founded in 1663, studies the humanities. It focuses primarily on the ancient world, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and non-European civilizations.
The Academy of Sciences,
founded in 1666, studies and promotes biological and physical sciences as well as mathematics.
The Academy of Fine Arts,
founded in 1816, promotes music and the fine arts.
The Academy of Ethics and Political Science,
permanently founded in 1832, studies and promotes philosophy, law, and the social sciences.
