The argument of generality in Carnot, Poncelet and Chasles (Q2849093)

Geometry as a science changed radically during the first half of the 19th century. The main influence in this progress came from Lazare Carnot (1735--1823), Jean Victor Poncelet (1788--1867) and Michel Chasles (1793--1880). Each of them, in his own original way, proclaimed the argument of generality. It supposed to move apart the framework of the classical geometry extending its proof methods by employing general arguments rather than those related to concrete figures. The present author treats at length the most original and far-reaching of the contributions made by each of the above-mentioned scientists to transformation of geometry.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 1236.03004].