Vernacular geometry: between the senses and reason

Abstract

In 1571, Thomas Digges saw a work entitled A geometrical practise, named pantometria (hereafter Pantometria) through the press. The first three books of the work were based heavily on manuscripts prepared by Thomas’ father, Leonard, and instructed on the measurement of lengths, areas, and volumes respectively. To these three books, Thomas added his own appendix on geometrical solids. In offering these materials together in one vernacular publication, Digges suggested the feasibility of uniting abstract geometry with practical pursuits for presentation to an English-reading audience.

Notes

¹ Study of Robert Recorde's The pathway to knowledge (1551), a rendition of the first four books of Euclid, yields similar findings, although there is not room to explore that work here.

² Dee hoped in this way to avoid the charges of irrelevance made by Plato's students. See Jennifer Rampling's article in this issue for a more thorough treatment of the ‘Preface’ and Archibald 1950 for a consideration of the possible sources for the translation.

³ ‘Chapter’ refers to the enunciation of a problem and the ensuing explanation of its solution.

⁴ In some cases, Digges offered a proof of his methods. However, this was the exception, rather than the rule and in such cases Digges included Greek quotations, suggesting that he did not intend this message for the unlearned surveyor.

⁵ Instructions remained procedural even for more complex instruments such as the theodolite, although Higton (2001, 20) claims that some trigonometry was required for the drawing of plans using a theodolite.

⁶ This excepting the appendix, which seems to have been intended for a rather specialized part of the readership.