It's obvious, for instance, how closely French anthropology stemmed from philosophical questions. Similarly, two great philosophers, Foucault and Ricoeur, have played key roles in recent developments in historiography. But note that historians did not welcome them at first. There are numerous stories on the negative reaction to Foucault's first historical writings. Ricoeur also worked alone and many historians saw his work on narration as an aberration.
French historians are cautious, extremely cautious.
The Ecole Normale gives them sometimes the possibility to be daring. But if you take the risks, you stay at the Ecole Normale. The French university is that exclusive country with the Sorbonne as capital, a very Parisian structure where you do not enter without your state doctorate. And because historical science is so tied to the history of the nation, historians are perhaps more subdued by this structure. But most remain conservative and I am not truly sure when they will stop being so.