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Lifetime
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Speech leaving Hungary
When departing Hungary in 1956, he gave a speech about education and the problem of it with the new generation. In the speech “He argued in favour of talent, curiosity, original thinking, autonomy, the right to doubt and the right to dissent, demand for proofs, and respect for facts.” (Lakatos and Feyerabend 20). He wanted people to question and break down his ideas. He was purposely provocative to be questioned. -
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Letters with Feyerabend
In his last years he exchanged words and ideas with another key figure in Philosophy of Science Feyerabend. Throughout 7 years they contested and debated each other through letters. These debates through the letters take an inside look into the problems of philosophy of science from the top two minds of the time. -
Research Program
Lakatos’s main contribution to philosophy of science was a research program. He took ideas from Kuhn and added his own twist. He believed in the idea of the paradigm, however he did not believe only one should lead the field. He believe in competition making scientist better. Godfrey-Smith said “The first rule is that changes should only be made to the protective belt, never to the hard core. The second rule is that changes to the protective belt should be progressive.”(105). -
Died
suddenly of a heart attack on 2 February 1974 -
Lifelong Impact Philosophy and Beyond
The university of Standford says "According to Google Scholar, by the 25th of January 2015, that is, just twenty-five days into the new year, thirty-three papers had been published citing Lakatos in that year alone, a citation rate of over one paper per day." (p 3). Of the 33 papers used that year 10 qualify in philosophy. Proving his ideas extend way beyond his field of research.
The top prize for best book in Philosophy of Science was named in his honor!