Seeking English equivalent of a certain German word
in [Math]
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From: David Bernier on 29 Jan 2010 23:54 Chip Eastham wrote: > On Jan 28, 9:53 am, "Dave L. Renfro" <renfr...(a)cmich.edu> wrote: >> I am seeking an English word or phrase equivalent for >> the German word "Weitenbehaftungen" that was used by >> the German mathematician/philosopher >> >> Friedrich Jacob [Jakob] Kurt Geissler [Gei�ler] (1859-1941) >> >> I am not particularly interested in his theories on infinity >> and infinitesimals (which were widely criticized around 1903 >> through the 1910s on several grounds, one of which was his lack >> of knowledge of then modern mathematical developments that >> related to his work), but rather I simply want to come up with >> a reasonable English version for the title of one of his papers: >> >> Die Asymptote und die Weitenbehaftungen >> >> Thanks, >> >> Dave L. Renfro > > Best guess (see discussion elsewhere on thread): > > Asymptotes and Spatial Clusterings > > [Obscure, yes, but serviceable?] Dave Renfro mentioned infinitesimals (and I think you did also) in connection with Geissler's works. In the (or a) field of hyperreals in the sense of Robinson's non-standard analysis, there's the notion of "the standard part" of a finite hyperreal. [according to Wikipedia]. Wikipedia: "The standard part of any infinitesimal is 0." Reference: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_part_function > So I think it might pass today to speak in non-standard analysis in this way: "The infinitesimals 'cluster' around 0" ... However, I'm pretty sure that you've read more than me of Geissler, and about his "Weitenbehaftungen" idea or ideas. Regards, David |