Proofs and Refutations: The Logic of Mathematical Discovery

ISBN 10: 0521290384 / ISBN 13: 9780521290388

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1976

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Proofs and Refutations: The Logic of Mathematical Discovery
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 1976
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521290384
• ISBN 13: 9780521290388
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

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.

Book Description

A novel introduction to the philosophy of mathematics, mostly in the form of a discussion between a group of students and their teacher. It combats the positivist picture and develops a much richer, more dramatic progression.