Gauss and the definition of the plane concept in Euclidean elementary geometry (Q674570)

Until now Gauss's definition of the plane had not yet been studied in detail by historians. The paper gives an excellent investigation of the subject, beginning with the concept of the plane in Euclid's elements. Gauss's first ideas seem to go back as early as 1796, they concerned the definition of the straight line. One year later Gauss enlarged the problem in considering the concept of the plane. He never published his ideas but mentioned the problem in letters as well as in his notes. Though there can be found only few relevant quotations within Gauss, the present paper succeeds in delivering a coherent picture culminating in the interpretation of Gauss's notes dating from 1832: ``Begründung des planum''. A letter from Gauss to Gerling was the starting point for Gerling's own investigations on this subject which were published in 1840. On the other hand Gerling had motivated Deahna whose thesis treated the same subject (1834).