Lakatos' Philosophy of Mathematics

A Historical Approach
Erscheinungsjahr 1991
ISBN: 978-0-444-88944-7
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Technology

Buch, Englisch

Reihe: Studies in the History and Philosophy of Mathematics

In this book, which is both a philosophical and historiographical study, the author investigates the fallibility and the rationality of mathematics by means of rational reconstructions of developments in mathematics. The initial chapters are devoted to a critical discussion of Lakatos' philosophy of mathematics. In the remaining chapters several episodes in the history of mathematics are discussed, such as the appearance of deduction in Greek mathematics and the transition from Eighteenth-Century to Nineteenth-Century analysis. The author aims at developing a notion of mathematical rationality that agrees with the historical facts. A modified version of Lakatos' methodology is proposed. The resulting constructions show that mathematical knowledge is fallible, but that its fallibility is remarkably weak.

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Mathematik Allgemein Philosophie der Mathematik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophie der Mathematik, Philosophie der Physik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

On Two Lakatosian Reconstructions of Developments in Mathematics. The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. Cauchy and the Continuum. A Meta-Methodological Intermezzo. Two Reconstructions of Developments in Mathematics by Means of the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. Outline of a Methodology of Mathematical Research Traditions. Two Research Traditions in Greek Mathematics. Two Research Traditions in Analysis. The History of the Interchangeability Theorem for Partial Differentiation from Nicolaus I. Bernouilli to Schwarz. Some Concluding Remarks. Bibliography. Index.