An intellectual and the first public figure in France to reveal that he had Aids, Aron was born into a large Jewish family of medical doctors in Strasbourg. He studied philosophy and psychology before beginning in 1951 an illustrious career as teacher, scholar, journalist and author. He also served as adviser to the Minister of Culture in the socialist government elected in 1981.

Known for both his intellectual brillance and his dandyism, Aron concealed his homosexuality, although he did participate in gay rights demonstrations in the early 1980s. In 1986 he was diagnosed by his brother, a doctor, having Aids, and decided to come out. Aron's dignified and brave interviews about his illness, printed and televised, did probably change forever the public perception of the disease in France.