Thursday, April 09, 2015

Euclid's Postulates: Geometry and Mathematics Explained

Euclid's Postulates: Geometry and Mathematics Explained












Can we see this as a formal system, perhaps a rewriting system, in which proofs are just derivations according to some rules...



Here [link] is a paper that talks about that:

2009- A Formal System for Euclid's Elements - by Jeremy Avigad, Edward Dean, John Mumma.

" ... we show that our proof system is sound and complete for a standard semantics
of “ruler-and-compass constructions,” expressed in modern terms. Thus, our presentation
of E is accompanied by both philosophical and mathematical claims: on the one hand, we
claim that our formal system accurately models many of the key methodological features
that are characteristic of the proofs found in Books I through IV of the Elements; and, on
the other hand, we claim that it is sound and complete for the appropriate semantics. "


An interesting question is: if you can draw a particular diagram (in Euclid's geometry), is that general enough to conclude that something has been proven? Or: can a single diagram make us sure that some geometrical property is true?
" ... in Euclid’s proofs the construction steps generally precede the deductive conclusions. Thus, the proofs generally split into two phases: in the construction (kataskeue) phase, one carries out the construction, introducing all the objects that will be needed to reach the desired conclusion; and then in the deduction (apodeixis) phase one infers metric and diagrammatic consequences. "

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