http://geology.19thcenturyscience.org/books/1906-Merz

http://geology.19thcenturyscience.org/books/1906-Merz-HistEurThot/README.htm
658
SCIENTIFIC
ducements is
science;
likely
third
In recognition
of
follow up
fluence
upon
matical
research.
at the École
as
empty and
the partial
the
ceding century
through
for the progress of
not
of
development
came
in
the
Normale, and has
this
in its
of
closing years of
of
mathe
the
pie
Gaspard Monge
popularly known
become
his invention of Descriptive
view, I
fruitful in
lines
the
the lectures
through
of danger.
devoid
correctness of
the practical stimulus
This stimulus
22.
Descriptive
Geometry,
to prove fruitful
they look upon the first as an amusing pastime,
and upon the
will
THOUGHT.
Geometry, the first
modern systematic application of purely graphical methods
in
the
was
solution
the
of
founder
mathematical
of
the
As
problems.
modern
school
of
Cauchy
analysts,
so
Monge, together with Carnot, founded the modern school
of
geometricians;
among
his
school
was
most
to
Dupin,
illustrious
to
give
had been practised by
and
Poncelet,
geometrical
Not long after
Chasles
The
aim
methods,
being
of
such
this
as
the ancients,1 the same generality
systematic unity which
methods introduced
pupils.
and
by
characterised
the analytical
Descartes.
the introduction of
1 These
methods
had
been
used
in
this
largely
country by
Newton,
and
Robert
Simeon,
Stewart. They were systematised
Chasles
by L. N. M. Carnot.
(" Dicours d'inauguration, &c.,"
1846, 'Gométrie Supérieure,' p.
lxxvii)
"Dana
le
siècle
says:
dernier, B.. Sinison et Stewart
donnaient, h l'instar des Anciens,
autant de demonstrations d'une
laquelle
proposition, que la figure
elle se rapportait présentait de
formes diffren tea, A. raison des
positions relatives de sea diverses
the
latter, Leibniz
parties. Carnot s'at.tacha ..\ prouver
qu'une seule démoiisratiou ap
plique i. un ótat assez gtháral
de la figure devait sutlire pour
thus lea autres cas; et II mont re
comment, par des
chaugements
de signes de ternies, clans lea
formules
démontres
une
par
ces
forinules s'applicuaient
figure,
. une autre figure ne difl'raut de
la premiere, commes nous l'avons
dit, que par lea positions relatives
de certaines parties.
C'est ce qu'il
le
de
corrlation
appela
'Principe
des figures.'"