Strategical use(s) of arithmetic in Richard Dedekind and Heinrich Weber's \textit{Theorie der algebraischen Funktionen einer Veränderlichen}

DOI10.1016/J.HM.2016.09.002MaRDI QIDQ508123zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Emmylou Haffner

Publication date 9 February 2017

Published in Historia Mathematica (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hm.2016.09.002

zbMATH Keywords

algebraic functions arithmetical rewriting Riemann's function theory

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

History of mathematics in the 19th century (01A55)

Review text

As the title indicates, the article under review is dedicated to the publication ``Theorie der algebraischen Funktionen einer Veränderlichen [\textit{R. Dedekind} and \textit{H. Weber}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 92, 181--291 (1882; JFM 14.0352.01)]. The author analyzes and contextualizes this work putting a main focus on the ``arithmetical rewriting of Riemann's function theory. In the first section, certain background aspects are considered: from the general historical evolution and ambiguity of the use of the term ``arithmetical up to Dedekind's conception of arithmetic ``as a tool for producing knowledge as well as an outlined comparison with Leopold Kronecker's arithmetization. The author made a great effort in providing a rich overview of the context including convincing details and motivates a plurality of connecting factors without being too excessive. In the subsequent section, the work of Dedekind and Weber on Bernhard Riemann's \textit{Gesammelte Werke} is presented as starting point of a long friendship and cooperation of the two editors. On the basis of selected extracts from their two year long excessive (though nowadays incomplete) letter exchange preparing the 1882 paper, the author points out Dedekind and Weber's enthusiasm on their new ``ideal theory of algebraic functions with the purpose of redefining the basic notions of Riemann's function theory. Obstacles and difficulties concerning new mathematical results are explained. In addition, presenting parts of the introduction of the 1882 paper underlines the motivation of Dedekind and Weber to reach rigor and generality components as well as their renunciation of certain components and principles. The next two sections contain an interesting analysis of Dedekind and Weber's approach. Here, the pivotal analogy between number fields and function fields inducing similarities between the arithmetical properties of numbers and of functions is carefully presented. In particular, on behalf of some quotations taken from the original letter exchange one gets an impression of the shared aims and work of the two mathematicians. The main focus is put on the new definition of the point on a Riemann surface as correspondence from the field of functions into the field of numerical constants which plays a key role in the approach; as well as on the definition of the Riemann surface as product of (``moving) polygons. The author closes her considerations with some reflections on the ``sparse and delayed reception of the 1882 paper. Against this background she underlines that Dedekind and Weber's theory should furthermore be considered as an arithmetical rewriting of the basic concepts of Riemann's theory rather than a mere application of number theory to function theory.

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