Lakatos as historian of mathematics

B. Larvor

doi:10.1093/philmat/5.1.42

Lakatos as historian of mathematics

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Abstract

This paper discusses the connection between the actual history of mathematics and Lakatos's philosophy of mathematics, in three parts. The first points to studies by Lakatos and others which support his conception of mathematics and its history. In the second I suggest that the apparent poverty of Lakatosian examples may be due to the way in which the history of mathematics is usually written. The third part argues that Lakatos is right to hold philosophy accountable to history, even if Lakatos's own view of mathematics fails that test.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	42-64
Journal	Philosophia Mathematica
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/philmat/5.1.42
Publication status	Published - 1997

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10.1093/philmat/5.1.42

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abstract = "This paper discusses the connection between the actual history of mathematics and Lakatos's philosophy of mathematics, in three parts. The first points to studies by Lakatos and others which support his conception of mathematics and its history. In the second I suggest that the apparent poverty of Lakatosian examples may be due to the way in which the history of mathematics is usually written. The third part argues that Lakatos is right to hold philosophy accountable to history, even if Lakatos's own view of mathematics fails that test. ",

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Lakatos as historian of mathematics

Abstract

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