990112 0833 - A is normal; B is foundational (any exceptions)

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Von: stevepq@hkbu.edu.hk <stevepq@hkbu.edu.hk>
An: Multiple recipients of list <kant-l@bucknell.edu>
Betreff: A is normal; B is foundational (any exceptions?)
Datum: Dienstag, 12. Januar 1999 08:41

Sen gives the following insightful answer to Marco's question:

>I would think that most "normal" science today conforms with option "A."
>However, ... much, if not most,...psychology of mathematics education ...
>conforms with option "B."

I would go so far as to suggest that in *every* area of science, researchers who
are working within a set of given assumptions (i.e., doing "normal" science)
adopt option A, whereas researchers whose work is on the "cutting edge" and who
are therefore seeking to provide foundational explanations for these basic
assumptions (or to replace them with new basic assumptions) adopt option B.
There are countless examples of this in mathematics, physics, biology,
cosmology, psychology, medicine and many other areas of science.

Can anyone cite a counterexample?

Steve Palmquist
http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/