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On some self-immunization mechanisms of applied mathematics: The case of Catastrophe Theory

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Optimization Techniques Part 1

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences ((LNCIS,volume 6))

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Abstract

The eight mechanisms listed above are far from being a complete list. However they suffice to illustrate our main point, as announced in the introduction, i.e. that the question of immunization mechanisms acquires distinctively peculiar characteristics in the case of Applied Mathematics. The last six of them seem to us to be unique to it. As for the first two, they clearly are not, but they assume a new form in Applied Mathematics. Because of the certainty of its theorems, mathematics has traditionally stayed away from methodological problems. No clear criteria are agreed upon as to how to evaluate works in Applied Mathematics. This makes it an extremely fertile ground for theories which do not commit themselves to specific statements about facts, nor even to some methodological constraints. What is needed is the acceptance of the legitimacy and the need for critical activity. We look forward to it.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, Rutgers University, 08903, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    H. J. Sussmann

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  1. H. J. Sussmann
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J. Stoer

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© 1978 Springer-Verlag

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Sussmann, H.J. (1978). On some self-immunization mechanisms of applied mathematics: The case of Catastrophe Theory. In: Stoer, J. (eds) Optimization Techniques Part 1. Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, vol 6. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0007223

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0007223

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-08707-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-35891-6

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