The Mathematics of Plato's Academy

The Mathematics of Plato's Academy, Volume 1, offers a detailed reconstruction of early Greek mathematics. This scholarly work focuses on geometry and the concept of ratio and proportion within the context of Plato and his Academy. The text is structured into three distinct sections covering interpretation, evidence, and later developments. David Fowler examines the sources of Euclid's Elements and challenges modern assumptions about the mathematical knowledge available during Plato's lifetime.

This volume of Greek mathematics provides a technical analysis of ancient texts and explores the theory of continued fractions from the seventeenth century onward. By contrasting evidence from early and late antiquity, the author presents an unorthodox perspective on how early mathematicians perceived their field. The book serves as a comprehensive resource for historians of mathematics, classicists, and those interested in the evolution of geometry and Greek mathematical thought.