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Descriptive geometry in France: circulation, transformation, recognition (1795–1905). (English) Zbl 1454.01012

Barbin, Évelyne (ed.) et al., Descriptive geometry, the spread of a polytechnic art. The legacy of Gaspard Monge. Cham: Springer. Int. Stud. Hist. Math. Teach., 19-38 (2019).
Author’s abstract: Descriptive geometry had been taught by Monge in 1794–1795 in two schools: the École polytechnique, intended for future engineers and officers, and the École normale, intended for future teachers. Monge’s two proposals were preparatory teaching for various applications, but also a new teaching of geometry, which could follow (or replace) the ordinary elements of geometry. In this chapter, our main goal is to examine the future of these two proposals in France. Indeed, the spirit of the first lessons given by Monge changed at the same time that descriptive geometry underwent a considerable dissemination into all French education and society. In relation to that dissemination, we examine the circulation of knowledge towards artists, craftsmen, and engineers. We investigate teaching given in the preparatory grades for the entrance examination to the École polytechnique, to the École centrale des arts et manufactures, and to other schools, and we analyze the process that led to teaching descriptive geometry at secondary level. We also examine the role of descriptive geometry in the teaching of geometry in the end of the nineteenth century.
Reviewer’s remarks: The paper describes in full the influences of education of the “descriptive geometry”, from the beginning by Monge (\(\sim\) 1795), subsequently spreading out over France in the 18th and 19th century, until its end around 1970. Books about the subjects have been mentioned as well as short c.v.’s of authors together with particular glimpses regarding the contents. As such, I can recommand the paper, as being rather complete and encyclopedic as well. Of course, a well-to-do literature list concludes the paper.
For the entire collection see [Zbl 1426.01003].

MSC:

01A55 History of mathematics in the 19th century
01A50 History of mathematics in the 18th century
51-03 History of geometry
51N05 Descriptive geometry
97-03 History of mathematics education
97G80 Descriptive geometry (educational aspects)
01A60 History of mathematics in the 20th century
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References:

[1] OLI, Archives of the Library of the École Centrale des arts et manufactures.
[2] ROU, Archives of the Library of the École Centrale des arts et manufactures.
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