
The Euclidean Programme
Cambridge University Press
Published on 22. February 2024
Book
Hardback
82 pages
978-1-009-49440-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Euclidean Programme embodies a traditional sort of epistemological foundationalism, according to which knowledge - especially mathematical knowledge - is obtained by deduction from self-evident axioms or first principles. Epistemologists have examined foundationalism extensively, but neglected its historically dominant Euclidean form. By contrast, this book offers a detailed examination of Euclidean foundationalism, which, following Lakatos, the authors call the Euclidean Programme. The book rationally reconstructs the programme's key principles, showing it to be an epistemological interpretation of the axiomatic method. It then compares the reconstructed programme with select historical sources: Euclid's Elements, Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, Descartes's Discourse on Method, Pascal's On the Geometric Mind and a twentieth-century account of axiomatisation. The second half of the book philosophically assesses the programme, exploring whether various areas of contemporary mathematics conform to it. The book concludes by outlining a replacement for the Euclidean Programme.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 6 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight
281 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-49440-3 (9781009494403)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

A. C. Paseau | Wesley Wrigley
Euclidean Programme
E-Book
02/2024
Cambridge University Press
€20.99
Available for download

A. C. Paseau | Wesley Wrigley
The Euclidean Programme
Book
02/2024
Cambridge University Press
€24.00
Shipment within 15-20 days

A. C. Paseau | Wesley Wrigley
The Euclidean Programme
E-Book
02/2024
Cambridge University Press
€20.99
Available for download
Persons
Author
University of Oxford
LSE - Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Content
1. Introduction; 2. The Euclidean programme; 3. Before the EP: Euclid; 4. Before the EP: Aristotle; 5. The EP's 17th-century apogee; 6. Descriptive Axiomatisation and the EP; 7. The EP assessed: core principles; 8. The EP assessed: subsidiary principles; 9. What should replace the EP?; 10. Summary; References.