Introduction of the term “topology” in mathematics by J. B. Listing in 1847. (Einführung des Begriffes “Topologie” in die Mathematik durch J. B. Listing im Jahre 1847.) (German) Zbl 0840.01019

Karl, Birgit; Schreck, Helmut

Czermak, Johannes (ed.), Philosophy of mathematics. Proceedings of the 15th international Wittgenstein-Symposium, 16-23 August 1992, Kirchberg am Wechsel, Austria. Part I. Wien: Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky. Schriftenreihe der Wittgenstein-Gesellschaft. 20/I, 60-66 (1993).

The authors deal with Johannes Benedikt Listing’s (1808-1882) definition of “Topology” as the doctrine of modal relations between spatial objects abstracting from measure and quantity, which he presented in his “Vorstudien zur Topologie” [Göttinger Studien, 1: 811-875 (1847)]. They give evidence for Carl Friedrich Gauß’s influence on Listing and discuss Listing’s distinction of topology from Leibniz’s analysis situs or geometria situs which is, according to Listing, not purely modal but uses implicitly quantitative notions.
For the entire collection see [Zbl 0836.00022].

Reviewer: V.Peckhaus (Erlangen)

MSC:

01A55	History of mathematics in the 19th century
54-03	History of general topology

Keywords:

Listing; Gauß; Leibniz; history of topology; analysis situs; geometria situs