Life, architecture, mathematics, and the fourth dimension
Article
Lawrence, S. 2015. Life, architecture, mathematics, and the fourth dimension. Nexus Network Journal. 17 (2), pp. 587-604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-014-0221-9
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | Life, architecture, mathematics, and the fourth dimension |
Authors | Lawrence, S. |
Abstract | The fourth dimension, whilst contemplated from as far back as antiquity, was only studied in mathematics from the nineteenth century. Here we trace the history of these investigations, and place them in the context of their manifestations in architecture, whether real or imagined. As we take a look at the social milieu within which the study of the fourth dimension flourished, in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, we investigate the biographies and works of the protagonists, and note that the study of the fourth dimension, and dimensionality itself, was strongly coloured by considerations of ethics and even religiosity. Finally we look at a few examples of architecture which offer different interpretations of the fourth dimension. |
Keywords | Polytopes Polyhedra; Fourth dimension; Dimensionality; Schlafli symbol; Tesseract; Euler's characteristics; Spiritualism; Theosophy; Antroposophy; Flatland |
Publisher | Springer |
Birkhäuser Verlag | |
Journal | Nexus Network Journal |
ISSN | 1590-5896 |
Electronic | 1522-4600 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 08 Jan 2015 |
30 Jul 2015 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 31 Mar 2020 |
Accepted | 10 Jan 2014 |
Output status | Published |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-014-0221-9 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:000358217400012 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/88wz6
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