Imre Lakatos' philosophical and scientific papers are published here in two volumes. Volume I brings together his very influential but scattered papers on the philosophy of the physical sciences, and includes one important unpublished essay on the effect of Newton's scientific achievement. Volume II presents his work on the philosophy of mathematics (much of it unpublished), together with some critical essays on contemporary philosophers of science and some famous polemical writings on political and educational issues. Imre Lakatos had an influence out of all proportion to the length of his philosophical career. This collection exhibits and confirms the originality, range and the essential unity of his work. It demonstrates too the force and spirit he brought to every issue with which he engaged, from his most abstract mathematical work to his passionate 'Letter to the director of the LSE'. Lakatos' ideas are now the focus of widespread and increasing interest, and these volumes should make possible for the first time their study as a whole and their proper assessment.

伊姆雷・拉卡托斯（1922-1974）、著名数学哲学家和科学哲学家，当代西方科学哲学“历史学派”主要代表人物之一。本书收入任教关于科学哲学的五篇重要论文，集中体现了作者的科学哲学观和历史方法论。书中批判了波普尔的证伪主义方法论与库恩的非理性主义科学心理学。提出了一个理论演替的合理的动态的科学发展模式，主张以科学史检验科学方法论，并倡导以典型历史实例进行“案例研究”的方法。