Introduction

pp. 1-7

in: Karl Menger, Selected papers in logic and foundations, didactics, economics, Berlin, Springer, 1979

Abstract

This volume brings together those papers of mine which may be of interest not only to various specialists but also to philosophers. Many of my writings in mathematics were motivated by epistemological considerations; some papers originated in the critique of certain views that at one time dominated the discussions of the Vienna Circle; others grew out of problems in teaching fundamental ideas of mathematics; still others were occasioned by personal relations with economists. Hence a wide range of subjects will be discussed: epistemology, logic, basic concepts of pure and applied mathematics, philosophical ideas resulting from geometric studies, mathematical didactics and, finally, economics. The papers also span a period of more than fifty years. What unifies the various parts of the book is the spirit of searching for the clarification of basic concepts and methods and of articulating hidden ideas and tacit procedures.