An essay on the foundations of geometryRussell, Bertrand
Philosophy
An essay on the foundations of geometry
Russell, Bertrand
Geometry -- Foundations
[24] Nevertheless, the Geometries of different surfaces of equal
curvature are liable to important differences. For example, the
cylinder is a surface of zero curvature, but since its lines of
curvature in one direction are finite, its Geometry coincides with
that of the plane only for lengths smaller than the circumference of
its generating circle (see Veronese, op. cit. p. 644). Two geodesics
on a cylinder may meet in many points. For surfaces of zero curvature
on which this is not possible, the identity with the plane may
be allowed to stand. Otherwise, the identity extends only to the
properties of figures not exceeding a certain size.
[25] For we may consider two different parts of the same surface as
corresponding parts of different surfaces; the above proposition then
shows that a figure can be reproduced in one part when it has been
drawn in another, if the measures of curvature correspond in the two
parts.
[26] Crelle, Vols, XIX., XX., 1839-40.
[27] In this formula, _u_, _v_ may be the lengths of lines, or the
angles between lines, drawn on the surface, and having thus no
necessary reference to a third dimension.
[28] In what follows, I have given rather Klein's exposition of
Riemann, than Riemann's own account. The former is much clearer
and fuller, and not substantially different in any way. V. Klein,
Nicht-Euklid, I. pp. 206 ff.
[29] See §§ 69-73.
[30] Grundlagen der Geometrie, I. and II., Leipziger Berichte, 1890;
v. end of present chapter, § 45.
[31] Nicht-Euklid, I. pp. 258-9.
[32] Giornale di Matematiche, Vol. VI., 1868. Translated into
French by J. Hoüel in the "Annales Scientifiques de l'École Normale
Supérieure," Vol. VI. 1869.
[33] Crelle's Journal, Vols. XIX. XX., 1839-40.
[34] Nicht-Euklid, I. p. 190.
[35] This article is more trigonometrical and analytical than the
German book, and therefore makes the above interpretation peculiarly
evident.
[36] Such surfaces are by no means particularly remote. One of them,
for example, is formed by the revolution of the common Tractrix
x = asin φ, y = a(log tan φ/2 + cos φ).
[37] "Teoria fondamentale degli spazii di curvatura costanta," Annali
di Matematica, II. Vol. 2, 1868-9. Also translated by J. Hoüel, _loc.
cit._
[38] See Klein, Nicht-Euklid, I. p. 47 ff., and the references there
given.
[39] See quotation below, from his British Association Address.
[40] Compare the opening sentence, due to Cayley, of Salmon's Higher
Plane Curves.
[41] V. Nicht-Euklid, I. Chaps. I. and II.
[42] See p. 9 of Cayley's address to the Brit. Ass. 1883. Also a
quotation from Klein in Erdmann's Axiome der Geometrie, p. 124 note.
[43] Nature, Vol. XLV. p. 407.
[44] Nicht-Euklid, I. p. 200.
[45] I.e. the equation _AB_ + _BC_ = _AC_, for three points in one
straight line.
[46] The formula substituted by Klein for Cayley's inverse sine or
cosine. The two are equivalent, but Klein's is mathematically much
the more convenient.
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