1001Philosophers

Jean Cavailles 1903 – 1944

Jean Cavailles (1903 – 1944) was a French philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Continental Philosophy.

Jean Cavailles was a French philosopher of mathematics and a hero of the French Resistance. Trained at the Ecole Normale Superieure under Brunschvicg and influenced by his exchanges with the German axiomatic tradition of Hilbert and Bernays, he developed a philosophy of mathematics centered on the autonomous development of concepts within the history of the discipline. Mobilized in 1939 and quickly drawn into clandestine resistance, he organized intelligence networks for the Free French until his arrest, torture, and execution by the German occupiers in February 1944. His final book, On Logic and the Theory of Science, shaped postwar French philosophy of science.

Key facts

Nationality
French
Era
Contemporary
Movements
Continental Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Jean Cavailles:

    “What is needed is not a philosophy of consciousness but a philosophy of the concept.”

  • Attributed to Jean Cavailles:

    “Mathematics moves by its own internal necessity.”

  • Attributed to Jean Cavailles:

    “Each theory carries within it the seeds of its own development.”

  • Attributed to Jean Cavailles:

    “The history of science is part of philosophy itself.”

  • Attributed to Jean Cavailles:

    “Resistance is the duty of every free conscience.”

Jean Cavailles by topic

Frequently asked about Jean Cavailles

When did Jean Cavailles live?
Jean Cavailles was born in 1903 and died in 1944.
Where was Jean Cavailles from?
Jean Cavailles was a French philosopher of the Contemporary era.
What philosophical movements is Jean Cavailles associated with?
Jean Cavailles was associated with Continental Philosophy.
What was Jean Cavailles known for?
Jean Cavailles was a French philosopher of mathematics and a hero of the French Resistance.
How many quotes are attributed to Jean Cavailles?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Jean Cavailles in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.