Mario Pieri and his contributions to geometry and foundations of mathematics (Q1309150)

The author rescues from obscurity the contributions of Mario Pieri (1860- 1913) to algebraic geometry and foundations of mathematics (particular the foundations of geometry). Pieri made a strong impression on Pincherle, whose lectures he attended. While working at Turin Pieri became interested in the Peano program, which influenced his later work. Most of his papers on algebraic geometry were written while he was at Turin. From 1900 to 1908 he was at the University of Catania, where he continued his earlier axiomatic approach to projective geometry. The author believes Pieri's obscurity was the result of being overshadowed to some extent by Peano, and also to the general lack of success of Peano's ideas in his own time. In addition she notes that Pieri's contributions were as a developer and polisher of the fundamental ideas of Peano, a role that seldom wins as much admiration as that of the pioneer.