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  1. Justifying definitions in mathematics—going beyond Lakatos.Charlotte Werndl - 2009 - Philosophia Mathematica 17 (3):313-340.
    This paper addresses the actual practice of justifying definitions in mathematics. First, I introduce the main account of this issue, namely Lakatos's proof-generated definitions. Based on a case study of definitions of randomness in ergodic theory, I identify three other common ways of justifying definitions: natural-world justification, condition justification, and redundancy justification. Also, I clarify the interrelationships between the different kinds of justification. Finally, I point out how Lakatos's ideas are limited: they fail to show how various kinds of justification (...)
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  • Bridging the gap between argumentation theory and the philosophy of mathematics.Alison Pease, Alan Smaill, Simon Colton & John Lee - 2009 - Foundations of Science 14 (1-2):111-135.
    We argue that there are mutually beneficial connections to be made between ideas in argumentation theory and the philosophy of mathematics, and that these connections can be suggested via the process of producing computational models of theories in these domains. We discuss Lakatos’s work (Proofs and Refutations, 1976) in which he championed the informal nature of mathematics, and our computational representation of his theory. In particular, we outline our representation of Cauchy’s proof of Euler’s conjecture, in which we use work (...)
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  • Mathematical engineering and mathematical change.Jean-Pierre Marquis - 1999 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 13 (3):245 – 259.
    In this paper, I introduce and examine the notion of “mathematical engineering” and its impact on mathematical change. Mathematical engineering is an important part of contemporary mathematics and it roughly consists of the “construction” and development of various machines, probes and instruments used in numerous mathematical fields. As an example of such constructions, I briefly present the basic steps and properties of homology theory. I then try to show that this aspect of contemporary mathematics has important consequences on our conception (...)
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  • What is dialectical philosophy of mathematics?Brendan Larvor - 2001 - Philosophia Mathematica 9 (2):212-229.
    The late Imre Lakatos once hoped to found a school of dialectical philosophy of mathematics. The aim of this paper is to ask what that might possibly mean. But Lakatos's philosophy has serious shortcomings. The paper elaborates a conception of dialectical philosophy of mathematics that repairs these defects and considers the work of three philosophers who in some measure fit the description: Yehuda Rav, Mary Leng and David Corfield.
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  • The 'Popperian Programme' and mathematics.Eduard Glas - 2001 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 32 (1):119-137.
    Lakatos's Proofs and Refutations is usually understood as an attempt to apply Popper's methodology of science to mathematics. This view has been challenged because despite appearances the methodology expounded in it deviates considerably from what would have been a straightforward application of Popperian maxims. I take a closer look at the Popperian roots of Lakatos's philosophy of mathematics, considered not as an application but as an extension of Popper's critical programme, and focus especially on the core ideas of this programme (...)
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  • Beyond the methodology of mathematics research programmes.Corfield David - 1998 - Philosophia Mathematica 6 (3):272-301.
    In this paper I assess the obstacles to a transfer of Lakatos's methodology of scientific research programmes to mathematics. I argue that, if we are to use something akin to this methodology to discuss modern mathematics with its interweaving theoretical development, we shall require a more intricate construction and we shall have to move still further away from seeing mathematical knowledge as a collection of statements. I also examine the notion of rivalry within mathematics and claim that this appears to (...)
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