Introduces several mathematicians who contributed significantly to the history of geometry.

This book introduces students to both ancient and modern pioneer figures of geometry. Students are entertainingly guided through important theories and concepts integral to the use of geometry. Includes detailed background information on Pythagoras of Samos, Euclid of Alexandria, Rene Descartes, and Grace Chisholm Young. Fascinating coverage is provided on the models of the Pythagorean theorem, the basics of Euclidean geometry, and the Cartesian coordinate system.

Geometry has fascinated philosophers since the days of Thales and Pythagoras. In the 17th and 18th centuries it provided a paradigm of knowledge after which some thinkers tried to pattern their own metaphysical systems. But after the discovery of non-Euclidean geometries in the 19th century, the nature and scope of geometry became a bone of contention. Philosophical concern with geometry increased in the 1920's after Einstein used Riemannian geometry in his theory of gravitation. During the last fifteen or twenty years, renewed interest in the latter theory -prompted by advances in cosmology -has brought geometry once again to the forefront of philosophical discussion. The issues at stake in the current epistemological debate about geometry can only be understood in the light of history, and, in fact, most recent works on the subject include historical material. In this book, I try to give a selective critical survey of modern philosophy of geometry during its seminal period, which can be said to have begun shortly after 1850 with Riemann's generalized conception of space and to achieve some sort of completion at the turn of the century with Hilbert's axiomatics and Poincare's conventionalism. The philosophy of geometry of Einstein and his contemporaries will be the subject of another book. The book is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 provides back ground information about the history of science and philosophy.

"A biography of ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, known as the father of geometry and author of the mathematics textbook Elements"--Provided by publisher.

"A biography of ancient Greek mathematician Eratosthenes, who used geometry to calculate the circumference of the earth. He is also known as the Father of Geography"--Provided by publisher.

Euclid, a Greek mathematician, flourished around 300 BCE. It was he who shaped geometry into what it is today. As a result, he became known as the father of geometry. Euclid founded his own school in Alexandria, Egypt, and gained a reputation as an exceptional geometry teacher. The Elements, his thirteen-volume treatise on mathematics and geometry, was considered to be one of the most influential mathematical works in history. Readers consider some of the definitions and postulates from this great work. They also learn about ancient Greek civilization and the renowned Greek mathematicians and philosophers who influenced Euclid's thinking.

The book also ties together the concerns of philosophers of science and cognitive science researchers, showing, for example, the connections between geometrical reasoning and cognition as well as the results of recent logical and computational models of geometrical reasoning. All the topics are covered from a novel combination of both historical and contemporary perspectives."--Jacket.