{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.01896551724137931, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.67816091954023, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Towards a Theory of Mathematical Research Programmes (I)*

INTRODUCTION The main aim of the methodology of scientific research programmes (henceforth MSRP) is to set out clear, general desiderata for distinguishing between progressive and degenerating science which are in accord (more or less) with the informed, intuitive assessments scientists make in particular cases. In this paper I want to consider whether a modified form of that methodology can perform the same function with respect to mathematics. Mathematicians generally have an intuitive feeling for what constitutes