Diagram for doubling the cube and squaring the circle
Date
December 1662
After
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p72a
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 377mm
width (page): 233mm
width (page): 233mm
Subject
Description
These are diagrams originally used by Thomas Hobbes for his proofs for doubling the cube and squaring the circle. Christian Huygens's criticisms of these proofs were read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 31 December 1662. In the previous meeting (24 December 1662), Walter Pope had been asked to enlarge the figures, and this sheet may well be the one consulted at the meeting on 31 December.
This diagram is copied at LBC/1/087. Another version of the diagram at the bottom of the page can be found at EL/H1/16/002.
This diagram is copied at LBC/1/087. Another version of the diagram at the bottom of the page can be found at EL/H1/16/002.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 24 December 1662, ‘Dr. Pope was desired to make the diagram in the great relating to Monsieur Huygens’s Latin letter to Sir Robert Moray, in answer to Mr. Hobbes’s defence of his geometrical problems’ (Birch 1:166). This is probably the enlarged version made by Pope.
31 December 1662, ‘Monsieur Huygens’s letter to Sir Robert Moray was read, containing his answer to Mr. Hobbes’s defence of certain geometrical problems about the duplication of the cube, etc. And it was ordered to be sent to Mr. Hobbes by the means of the stationer appointed by himself to receive the judgments of foreign mathematicians concerning that matter’ (Birch 1:167).
31 December 1662, ‘Monsieur Huygens’s letter to Sir Robert Moray was read, containing his answer to Mr. Hobbes’s defence of certain geometrical problems about the duplication of the cube, etc. And it was ordered to be sent to Mr. Hobbes by the means of the stationer appointed by himself to receive the judgments of foreign mathematicians concerning that matter’ (Birch 1:167).
Related fellows
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Walter Pope (1627 - 1714, British) , Astronomer
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Walter Pope (1627 - 1714, British) , Astronomer
Associated place