Born February 15, 1920. Died January 16, 2001.

Education and professional career

• 1937-1938: Lycée Louis-le-Grand (Paris)
• 1939-1943: École normale supérieure (Paris)
• 1943: Agrégation in Philosophy
• 1943-1944: Teacher at Lycée Victor-Hugo, Besançon
• 1944-1950: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France)
• 1948: Doctorate with thesis on Being and Work
• 1950-1962: Professor at the University of Clermont-Ferrand
• 1962-1990: Professor at the Collège de France, Philosophy of Knowledge Chair