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Mathematics

 

Review Essays of Academic, Professional & Technical Books in the Humanities & Sciences

 

Methodology

Appraising Lakatos: Mathematics, Methodology, and the Man edited by George Kampis, Ladislav Kvasz, Michael Stoltzner (Vienna Circle Institute Library: Kluwer Academic Publishers) a critical re-evaluation of the ideas of Imre Lakatos, a leader in the shaping of what is called the new philosophy of science. The 17 contributions (the result of a joint venture between the Institute Vienna Circle and the Institute for History and Philosophy of Science of Eotvos U, Budapest ) address his main theme of locating rationality within the scientific process, as well as his philosophy of mathematics, which emphasizes heuristics and mathematical practice over logical justification. They also include discussion of his personal life and politics, and contain a part of his Debrecen Ph.D. thesis as well as a bibliography of his Hungarian writings.

Imre Lakatos (1922--1974) was one of the protagonists in shaping the "new philosophy of science". More than 25 years after his untimely death, it is time for a critical re-evaluation of his ideas. His main theme of locating rationality within the scientific process appears even more compelling today, after many historical case studies have revealed the cultural and societal elements within scientific practices. Recently there has been, above all, an increasing interest in Lakatos' philosophy of mathematics, which emphasises heuristics and mathematical practice over logical justification. But suitable modifications of his approach are called for in order to make it applicable to modern axiomatised theories. Pioneering historical research in England and Hungary has unearthed hitherto unknown facts about Lakatos' personal life, his wartime activities and his involvement in the political developments of post-war Europe . From a communist activist committed to Gyorgyi Lukacs' thinking, Lakatos developed into a staunch anti-Marxist who found his intellectual background in Popper's critical rationalism. The volume also publishes for the first time a part of his Debrecen Ph.D. thesis and it is concluded by a bibliography of his Hungarian writings.

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