-
Foreword
- Baylor University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
ix FOREWORD Archimedes is one of the most original and prolific scientists in the history of humankind. Because of a prodigious mathematical imagination and a thoroughly advanced methodology , Archimedes was able to demonstrate proofs for an amazing set of geometrical theorems: on the quadrature of the circle, on the measurement of cylinders and spheres, on spirals, on conoids and other spherical shapes, and even on semi-regular polyhedrons. In arithmetic, Archimedes made great strides by determining , with extraordinary precision, very large numbers, such as the number of grains of sand necessary to fill the entire universe. Archimedes’ contributions to physics and engineering are equally important, especially his research on the lever, on the laws of mechanics, and on optics. He possessed an unparalleled ability to invent and build complex machines for both civilian and military purposes, such as the winch, the screw pump, some catapults, and possibly even “burning mirrors.” x FOREWORD Like Galileo in the seventeenth and Einstein in the twentieth century, Archimedes responded to the civil and political problems of his day with intelligence and passion. He thus courageously devoted himself to defending his hometown , Syracuse, one of the largest and most advanced cities of antiquity. Tragically, it was precisely when the city had fallen into the hands of the invading Romans (212 BC) that Archimedes met his end, brutally killed by a soldier who could not fathom how, in so perilous a situation, Archimedes persisted in occupying himself with abstract geometry. Historians, orators, architects, and poets, whether Greek or Roman (e.g., Polybius, Plutarch, Cicero, Vitruvius , and Virgil), included Archimedes in their writings. His reputation expanded throughout the medieval period. Moreover, during the Renaissance and the Reformation, translations of Archimedes’ texts coupled with thorough study of his theorems provided a strong foundation for the development of modern science. A number of rare and beautiful illustrations enrich Mario Geymonat’s pleasantly uncomplicated yet dexterous The Great Archimedes. This work represents a major contribution to the dissemination of knowledge about and admiration for this extraordinary historical figure. With this fresh contribution, Geymonat ensures that Archimedes will continue to be an example of mathematical genius for generations to come, and will continue to stimulate further interest in complex and difficult scientific questions. In this way, the great Archimedes, our learned colleague from antiquity, offers confidence to a new generation as it faces its own challenges. —Zhores Alferov ...