Mathematics in the archives: deconstructive historiography and the shaping of modern geometry (1837–1852) - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue British Journal for the History of Science Année : 2021

Mathematics in the archives: deconstructive historiography and the shaping of modern geometry (1837–1852)

Ivahn Smadja
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 1403529

Résumé

This essay explores the research practice of French geometer Michel Chasles (1793–1880), from his 1837 Aperçu historique up to the preparation of his courses on ‘higher geometry’ between 1846 and 1852. It argues that this scientific pursuit was jointly carried out on a historiographical and a mathematical terrain. Epistemic techniques such as the archival search for and comparison of manuscripts, the deconstructive historiography of past geometrical methods, and the epistemologically motivated periodization of the history of mathematics are shown to have played a crucial role in the shaping of Chasles's own theories. In particular, we present Chasles's approach to the ‘material history’ of algebraic symbolism and argue that it motivated and informed his subsequent invention of a novel notational technology for the writing of geometrical proofs and propositions. In return, this technology allowed Chasles to carry out a programme for the modernization of geometry in keeping with epistemic requirements he had also delineated via a form of historical writing.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
mathematics-in-the-archives-deconstructive-historiography-and-the-shaping-of-modern-geometry-1837-1852.pdf (618.26 Ko) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Publication financée par une institution
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-04654474 , version 1 (19-07-2024)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Nicolas Michel, Ivahn Smadja. Mathematics in the archives: deconstructive historiography and the shaping of modern geometry (1837–1852). British Journal for the History of Science, 2021, 54 (4), pp.423-441. ⟨10.1017/s0007087421000625⟩. ⟨hal-04654474⟩
0 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Mastodon Facebook X LinkedIn More