Philosopher receives $1.1 million grant from French National Research Agency | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame






	
	





  	Skip To Content
	Skip To Navigation
	Skip To Search






  
  
    University of Notre Dame

    
      
      Notre Dame News

      
      
    


    
    
      
        
        
        	
	Experts
	ND in the News
	Subscribe
	About Us
	


      
        
          
          
          
          
          
        

      


      
    


    
    
      	 Home
	 Contact
	 Search
	
          
          
            
            
          
          Menu
        
        


      
        
          
          
          
          
          
        

      

    

  

  
  

  

  
    	Home › 
	News › 
	Philosopher receives $1.1 million grant from French National Research Agency


    
      
        
          Philosopher receives $1.1 million grant from French National Research Agency

          
            
              
                
                Published: July 22, 2007
              

              
                Author: Shannon  Roddel
              

              







          

          
          
          

          
        
        
        
          

Michael Detlefsen, professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, has been awarded a prestigious $1.1 million senior Chaire dExcellence from the French National Research Agency (ANR). The award, along with matching financial support provided by the institutions that nominated himthe University of Paris, University of Nancy, and Collège de Francewill support a four-year research project on the history and philosophy of mathematics.

An expert on logic and the history and philosophy of mathematics, Detlefsen is one of only three senior award winners for 2007.The others are Patrick Cavanagh from Harvard University and Michel Devoret of Yale University.

For his project, titledIdeals of Proof,Detlefsen and a team of scholars he will assemble will investigate the uses made of imaginary elements (for example, the square root of -1) throughout the history of mathematics.

The use of imaginary elements has traditionally been thought to make it easier to prove certain theorems and solve certain problems,Detlefsen explained.A principal aim of the project is to gain a more exact understanding of what this has meant and might mean.Another goal is to better understand how the use of imaginary elements may affect the quality or trustworthiness of reasoning.

Through 2011, Detlefsen plans to work at Notre Dame during the fall and to spend the rest of each year in France at the sponsoring institutions.

Established in 2004, the Chaire dExcellence program is part of a governmental initiative to attract top international researchers to France.

_ Contact: Michael Detlefsen, 574-631-7399,_  " mdetlef1@nd.edu ":mailto:mdetlef1@nd.edu

TopicID: 23766

        

        
        
          
            

          

        
      
      
    
  
  
    	Home
	Experts
	ND in the News
	Subscribe
	About Us


  

  
  
    
     
  
  

  
  
    
      	For the Media
	Contact


    
            
    
      
	Office of Public Affairs and Communications


      Notre Dame News

      
        
          
            500 Grace Hall
 
            Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
          
          
          
          
        

        
          	 Facebook
	 Twitter
	 Instagram
	 YouTube
	 Pinterest


        
      

      
© 2022 University of Notre Dame

    
    
      

        
      
      
        
          	Search
	Mobile App
	News
	Events
	Visit
	Accessibility


        
        
          	 Facebook
	 Twitter
	 Instagram
	 YouTube
	 LinkedIn