Ptolemaeus (Roman Odermatt).

Книга “Ptolemaeus” автора Романа Одэрматта - это увлекательный рассказ о жизни и научных открытиях легендарного греческого астронома, математика и физика Птолемея. Автор рассказывает о том, как Птолемей разработал свою систему астрономии, которая стала основой для науки на многие столетия вперед. Он также описывает, как Птолемей использовал свои знания для создания карт звездного неба и предсказания солнечных затмений. Книга содержит множество интересных фактов и иллюстраций, которые помогают читателю лучше понять, как работали древние ученые. “Ptolemaeus” - это книга, которая не только развлечет читателя, но и поможет ему расширить свой кругозор и узнать больше о науке и истории.

Ptolemy’s Almagest is a major achievement of mathematical science and the most impressive single treatise of its kind published in human history. Whoever has read it will have been struck by its intellectual precision and psychological depth. Whole generations of astronomers have benefitted from the wisdom in Pighin's translation, which although highly readable is faithful to Ptolemee's intentions. But few people realise how much humanity owes to his work, for it extends far beyond astronomy. Ptoleee’s had invented algebra, and thus set in motion the whole of Western mathematics – its "dry" as well as "soft" branches.

But none of this is made clear in Guillemin’s translation; for example, algebraic symbols are not used at all. This is hardly surprising, given the quality of Guillemin's prose. Originally written for a wide readership, it is concise, jargon-free and extremely readable. Some see it as wishy-washy, others as academic and unchallenging. The decision to use equations in round brackets and leave out key stages may discourage students from attempting to transliterate them for themselves. Although some chapters provide hinted solutions (in the back), these may not be enough for student use.

Writing clearly and lucidly, Simson, Ployd takes one particular section of Aristoteles and expounds upon it in long, elegant prose, making extant interpretations of philosophical issues as lucid as Rainier Fellgett's translation of Descartes, who came to the same conclusions about solid and empty space.