Debating Grassmann's mathematics: Schlegel versus Klein (Q968802)

Though Felix Klein was responsible for initiating the collected mathematical and physical works of Grassmann (1894--1911) he was not alone in regarding some Grassmann followers, such as Victor Schlegel, excessive in the promotion of their master. This wariness was reflected in Klein's choice of contributing editors to the collected papers in which Schlegel was not given a major role. This caution also appears earlier in Klein's \textit{Jahrbuch} review of Schlegel's \textit{System der Raumlehre} (1872; JFM 04.0231.02). This and Schlegel's response are treated here in some detail. The author investigates how the motives of each person affected what they wrote and reflected differing views on the direction of education and research in mathematics.