Talk:Hermann Grassmann

Work on mathematics
Material here on Grassmann's work, in modern notation, should move out to the tensor product and exterior power pages.

Charles Matthews 17:47, 11 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Currently the text reads: "The theory of extension has been applied in the study of differential forms" which isn't quite accurate. Differential forms intrinsically follow exterior algebra and doubtlessly were introduced in this way having the theory of extension in mind. "The theory of extension led to the development of differential forms" is more accurate. The precise history of the development of differential forms and its relation to Grassmann's work is somewhat muddled, but leads via Poincare and Goursat to Cartan and Kähler who essentially gave differential forms its current definition. The reason that exterior algebra appears is simply that this is the correct way to describe oriented space elements algebraically, something already noted in Grassmann's work. 87.162.97.226 09:30, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Linguistic work
There was a funny mistake: the article said that he had done a translation of "the Ayurveda"! That is quite unpossible, since "A." is a branch of knowledge (translateing as sth. like "health science"), not a text! There does exist an old text corpus named the Yajurveda, which could have led to the confusion. What H.G. translated was, however, the oldest text of known Indian literature, the Rgveda(samhita). I have corrected it.

Regards, Sophophilos147.142.186.54 (talk) 14:14, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

Recognition of mathematical work
The article states that G.s mathematical work was not recognizes during his lifetime. That is true for a period of some decades (bad enough for a brilliant author!), but he did earn some late recognition by experts at the end of his life (while still on earth!) (vide e.g. German W.P. article on him, which has an extra short section "late recognition of mathematical work").147.142.186.54 (talk) 14:14, 5 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Further evidence that Grassmann did achieve some recognition for mathematics in his lifetime, at least in his own estimation, but with identification of some of the interested parties, can be found in A New Branch of Mathematics: The "Ausdehnungs…", in the translation, mentioned in the article, by Kannenberg, pp 20-21. That book can be viewed in part at Google Books. I suggest some revision of this aspect of the article text would be appropriate, as the current version is not neutral in that respect. I am speculating that the current opinionated article might be based on an earlier encyclopedia article, written at a time when neutrality may have been considered less important than verve. Dratman (talk) 06:23, 23 December 2011 (UTC)

English translation note and link in odd place
It feels a bit odd where this sentence occurs: "Lloyd C. Kannenberg published an English translation of The Ausdehnungslehre and Other works in 1995 (ISBN 0-8126-9275-6. -- ISBN 0-8126-9276-4)." It comes in the middle of a late paragraph well after discussion of Ausdehnungslehre. Also, not sure if this is the case, but the ISBN links seem broken...

Thomaso (talk) 20:16, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

"... published a Stettin newspaper ..."
Published a newspaper or an article in a newspaper? If an article, the phrase should be "... published in a Stettin newspaper ...". Also, Robert Grassmann was Hermann's brother, cousin, son? Regards, PeterEasthope (talk) 14:27, 4 January 2017 (UTC)


 * No, he and his brother published a newspaper, Deutsche Wochenschrift für Staat, Kirche und Volksleben. --Macrakis (talk) 15:27, 4 January 2017 (UTC)


 * Thanks. The details help to illustrate the breadth and depth of his thought. PeterEasthope (talk) 19:02, 4 January 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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