Space and geometry in the light of physiological, psychological and physical inquiry

by Ernst Mach

These three essays by an eminent philosopher and scientist explore the nature, origin, and development of our concepts of space from the points of view of the senses, history, and physics. Most books on the foundations of geometry emphasize only a single perspective—that of logic, epistemology, psychology, history, or the formal technology of the science. These authoritative essays examine the subject from every direction, with a distinctness and precision suitable for both undergraduate students and other readers. Unabridged republication of the classic 1906 edition. Translated from the German by Thomas J. McCormack. 25 figures.

Genres: Science, Physics, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Mathematics

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Ernst Mach was an Austrian physicist and philosopher and is the namesake for the "Mach number" (also known as Mach speed) and the optical illusion known as Mach bands.

Reviews

[Michal Paszkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, although a bit dated wrt the discussion of the senses. I was reading this primarily to look for evidence of Mach's principle, and yes, I found a few statements unmentioned in wiki where Mach tries to assert a relativity of all Geometry... I guess it might not be referring to rotation, but it can easily be seen as a book that may have been planting the seeds in Einstein's head.