Jean Nicod

Jean George Pierre Nicod (1893, France – 16 February 1924, Geneva, Switzerland) was a French philosopher and logician.

Biography

In his best known work, he showed that the classical propositional calculus could be derived from one axiom and one rule, both expressed using the Sheffer stroke. He also proposed the Nicod's axiom and developed Nicod's criterion.

Nicod died at the age of 31 from tuberculosis.

See also Carl Hempel's raven paradox.

Legacy

The Institut Jean Nicod (Paris) — a branch of the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) -- is research laboratory at the interface between philosophy, cognitive science, and the social sciences — was named in honour of Nicod's memory. Jean Nicod's name is also commemorated by the prestigious Jean Nicod Lectures, delivered annually in Paris by a leading philosopher of mind or philosophically oriented cognitive scientist, and published as a series by the MIT Press. The lecturer is awarded the Jean Nicod Prize by the CNRS.

Jean Nicod Prize

The Jean Nicod Prize is awarded annually in Paris to a leading philosopher of mind or philosophically-oriented cognitive scientist. The lectures are organized by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) as part of its effort to promote interdisciplinary research in cognitive science in France. The 1993 lectures marked the centenary of the birth of the French philosopher and logician Jean Nicod (1893-1924). Besides the CNRS, sponsors include the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS). The Jean Nicod lecturer is expected to deliver at least four lectures on a topic of his or her choice, and subsequently to publish the set of lectures, or a monograph based on them in the Jean Nicod Lectures series (MIT Press/Bradford Books; F. Recanati editor).

List of Jean Nicod Prize laureates from 1993 to the present day:

Source: Institut Jean Nicod

See also