Part II. has been written from a hurried sketch, which he considered
very inadequate, and which we have consequently corrected and
supplemented. Chapter XI. of this part has been entirely re-written by
us, and has thus not had the advantage of his supervision. This remark
also applies to Appendix E, which is an elaboration of a theorem he
suggested. Appendix H, and all the exercises have, in accordance with
his wish, been written solely by us. It will be apparent to the reader
that Appendix H is little more than a brief introduction to a very large
subject, which, being concerned with tessaracts and solids, is really
beyond treatment in writing and diagrams.
This difficulty recalls us to the one great fact, upon which we feel
bound to insist, that the matter of this book _must_ receive objective
treatment from the reader, who will find it quite useless even to
attempt to apprehend it without actually building in squares and cubes
all the facts of space which we ask him to impress on his consciousness.
Indeed, we consider that printing, as a method of spreading
space-knowledge, is but a “pis aller,” and we would go back to that
ancient and more fruitful method of the Greek geometers, and, while
describing figures on the sand, or piling up pebbles in series, would
communicate to others that spirit of learning and generalization
begotten in our consciousness by continuous contact with facts, and only
by continuous contact with facts vitally maintained.
ALICIA BOOLE,
H. JOHN FALK.
N.B. Models.--It is unquestionably a most important part of the process
of learning space to construct these, and the reader should do so,
however roughly and hastily. But, if Models are required as patterns,
they may be ordered from Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster
Square, London, and will be supplied as soon as possible, the
uncertainty as to demand for same not allowing us to have a large number
made in advance. Much of the work can be done with plain cubes by using
names without colours, but further on the reader will find colours
necessary to enable him to grasp and retain the complex series of
observations. Coloured models can easily be made by covering
Kindergarten cubes with white paper and painting them with water-colour,
and, if permanence be desired, dipping them in size and copal varnish.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PART I.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION 1-7
CHAPTER I.
Scepticism and Science. Beginning of Knowledge 8-13
CHAPTER II.
Apprehension of Nature. Intelligence. Study of Arrangement or
Shape 14-20
CHAPTER III.
The Elements of Knowledge 21-23
CHAPTER IV.
Theory and Practice 24-28
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