Dirk Schlimm, McGill University

Research

philosophy mathematical reasoning history and philosophy of mathematics history of mathematics

Latest papers

The abacus representation of numeral systems.
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2025 · first author
Babbage's guidelines for the design of mathematical notations.
Studies in history and philosophy of science · 2021 · senior author
Extended mathematical cognition: external representations with non-derived content.
Synthese · 2020 · senior author

All 5 publications

Latest funding

On the introduction of new entities in mathematics and the rise of mathematical platonism
SSHRC · 2021 · Principal investigator
$37,050
On the introduction of new entities in mathematics and the rise of mathematical platonism
SSHRC · 2021 · Principal investigator
$40,110
Towards a philosophy of notation: historical, cognitive, and pragmatic aspects of notations for propositional logic
SSHRC · 2016 · Principal investigator
$115,806

All 6 grants and awards

5 publications.

01

The abacus representation of numeral systems.

Schlimm D

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences2025First author

DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2024.0212 PMID: 41111305

02

Babbage's guidelines for the design of mathematical notations.

Dutz J, Schlimm D

Studies in history and philosophy of science2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.03.001 PMID: 34089995

03

Extended mathematical cognition: external representations with non-derived content.

Vold K, Schlimm D

Synthese2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-019-02097-w PMID: 32848284

04

Basic mathematical cognition.

Gaber D, Schlimm D

Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Cognitive science2015Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1351 PMID: 26263425

05

Conceptual metaphors and mathematical practice: on cognitive studies of historical developments in mathematics.

Schlimm D

Topics in cognitive science2013First author

DOI: 10.1111/tops.12018 PMID: 23580452

On the introduction of new entities in mathematics and the rise of mathematical platonism

Principal investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Schlimm, Dirk

Keywords: philosophy; history and philosophy of mathematics; mathematical reasoning

$37,050

On the introduction of new entities in mathematics and the rise of mathematical platonism

Principal investigatorSSHRC2021Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Schlimm, Dirk

Keywords: philosophy; history and philosophy of mathematics; mathematical reasoning

$40,110

Towards a philosophy of notation: historical, cognitive, and pragmatic aspects of notations for propositional logic

Principal investigatorSSHRC2016Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Schlimm, Dirk

Keywords: philosophy; history of mathematics; mathematical reasoning

$115,806

The collected works of Rudolf Carnap - Phase II

Co-investigatorSSHRC2012Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Zach, Richard

Keywords: analytic philosophy; history of philosophy; Rudolf Carnap; Vienna Circle

$133,680

The collected works of Rudolf Carnap

Co-investigatorSSHRC2008Standard Research Grants

Principal investigators: Zach, Richard

Keywords: analytic philosophy; history of philosophy; Rudolf Carnap; Vienna circle

$64,900

Geometry and logic from Pasch to Hilbert

Principal investigatorSSHRC2007Standard Research Grants

Principal investigators: Schlimm, Dirk

Keywords: philosophy of mathematics; history of mathematics; philosophy of science

$54,280

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2021

Subject: Prospective PhD student: philosophy Dear Professor Schlimm, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "The abacus representation of numeral systems." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "On the introduction of new entities in mathematics and the rise of mathematical platonism" (2021), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]