more on this theme     |     more from this thinker     |     more from this text

---

Single Idea 10245

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 2. Geometry ]

Full Idea

One geometry cannot be more true than another; it can only be more convenient.

Gist of Idea

One geometry cannot be more true than another

Source

Henri Poincaré (Science and Method [1908], p.65), quoted by Stewart Shapiro - Philosophy of Mathematics

Book Ref

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.154

---

A Reaction

This is the culminating view after new geometries were developed by tinkering with Euclid's parallels postulate.