Re: "manifold" in mathematics

Posted by Eric Charles on
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/manifold-in-mathematics-tp3385914p3391231.html

Of course, it would be unreasonable to expect Holt to conform to the modern definition of "manifold", as formalized mathematics has changed quite a bit in the last 100 years. While it is not quite as conceptually elaborate as it could be, our friend wikipedia has a bit on the history of the term (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_manifolds_and_varieties). I suspect Holt uses the term manifold to refer to a description of the intrinsic properties of complex surfaces. Presumably an entire forest can be thought of as a complex surface...? And the part of the forest I am responding to could be another more or less complexly described surface...? etc., etc. Does anyone know anything more about historic uses of the term?

Eric

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