Imre Lakatos

Imre Lakatos was a Hungarian philosopher of mathematics and science whose work challenged formalist views of mathematical knowledge. At the London School of Economics, where he became Professor of Logic in 1969, he developed influential accounts of mathematical discovery in Proofs and Refutations and of scientific change through his Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. His approach connected the history of scientific practice with philosophical analysis, refining and criticizing ideas associated with Karl Popper.