Single Idea 10853

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / l. Zero]

Full Idea

It is a chicken-and-egg problem, whether the lack of zero forced forced classical mathematicians to rely mostly on a geometric approach to mathematics, or the geometric approach made 0 a meaningless concept, but the two remain strongly tied together.

Gist of Idea

Either lack of zero made early mathematics geometrical, or the geometrical approach made zero meaningless

Source

Brian Clegg (Infinity: Quest to Think the Unthinkable [2003], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

Clegg,Brian: 'Infinity' [Robinson 2003], p.61