Proofs and Refutations: The Logic of Mathematical Discovery
Cambridge University Press (1976)
| Abstract | Proofs and Refutations is essential reading for all those interested in the methodology, the philosophy and the history of mathematics. Much of the book takes the form of a discussion between a teacher and his students. They propose various solutions to some mathematical problems and investigate the strengths and weaknesses of these solutions. Their discussion (which mirrors certain real developments in the history of mathematics) raises some philosophical problems and some problems about the nature of mathematical discovery or creativity. Imre Lakatos is concerned throughout to combat the classical picture of mathematical development as a steady accumulation of established truths. He shows that mathematics grows instead through a richer, more dramatic process of the successive improvement of creative hypotheses by attempts to 'prove' them and by criticism of these attempts: the logic of proofs and refutations. | |||||||||
| Keywords | Mathematics Philosophy Logic, Symbolic and mathematical | |||||||||
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| Buy the book | $45.88 direct from Amazon (9% off) Amazon page | |||||||||
| Call number | QA8.4.L34 | |||||||||
| ISBN(s) | 0521290384 9780521290388 | |||||||||
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Similar books and articlesJoel W. Robbin (1969/2006). Mathematical Logic: A First Course. Dover Publications.
Daniel J. Velleman (2006). How to Prove It: A Structured Approach. Cambridge University Press.
E. Glas (2001). The 'Popperian Programme' and Mathematics - Part II: From Quasi-Empiricism to Mathematical Research Programmes. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 32 (2):355-376.
J. L. Bell (1977). A Course in Mathematical Logic. Sole Distributors for the U.S.A. And Canada American Elsevier Pub. Co..
Olga Kiss (2006). Heuristic, Methodology or Logic of Discovery? Lakatos on Patterns of Thinking. Perspectives on Science 14 (3):302-317.
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