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Birth
Lakatos was born in Debrecen, Hungary under the name of Imre Lipschitz where he later changed his last name to Molnar and then changed it again to Lakatos due to the Nazi invasion (O'Connor). -
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Imre Lakatos
Imre Lakatos was a Hungarian philosopher who was famous for his contributions in philosophy of mathematics.
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Education
In 1944 Lakatos received a degree in mathematics, physics, and philosophy from the University of Debrecen. -
Professor at London School of Economics
in 1960 Lakatos taught at the London School of Economics for 14 years until his death (O'Connor). -
Ph.D.
Lakatos received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. -
Proofs and Refutations
In 1963 and 1964 through the British Journal for the Philoophy of Science, Lakatos published a four part article series titled “Proofs and Refutations” where he explains that informal mathematics is not final or perfect and that proofs are more so temporary endpoints (Musgrave). With this theory, Lakatos’ beliefs on mathematics are more aligned to Poppers view on science -
Methodology of Scientific Research Programs
Lakatos second major work in philosophy of science was his Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. In this theory, Lakatos views research programs as a mix of Kuhn and Poppers theory. In this sense he viewed research programs as having a hard core theory that cannot be abandoned but also a protective belt that shields the hard core theory (Larvor 51). -
Death
Lakatos died suddenly from a heart attack in 1974 in London, England (O'Connor). -
Proofs and Refutations: The Logic of Mathematical Discovery
After Lakatos death in 1976 John Worrall and Elie Zahar (Lakatos' closest colleagues and contributors) gathered his material and published his work that he left unfinished which was titled “proofs and Refutations: the Logic of Mathematical Discovery” (Larvor 8).
