The Impact of Modern Mathematics on Ancient Mathematics
In a hitherto unpublished lecture, delivered in Atlanta, 1975, W.R. Knorr reflects on historical method, its sensitivity to modern work, both in mathematics and in the philosophy of mathematics. Three examples taken from the work of Tannery, Hasse, Scholz and Becker and concerning the study of pre-euclidean geometry are discussed: the mis-described discovery of irrational ‘numbers’, the alleged foundations crisis in the 5th century B.C. and the problem of constructibility.