Axiom:Euclid's Common Notions/Historical Note

Historical Note on Euclid's Common Notions

It has been suggested by Paul Tannery that Euclid's common notions may not have been originated by Euclid, but may have been incorporated into The Elements at a later date, perhaps by Apollonius of Perga, who made an attempt to prove them.

This is discussed at some length by Sir Thomas L. Heath in his 1908 translation of The Elements.

Sources

• 1884: Paul Tannery: Sur l'authenticité des axiomes d'Euclide (Bull. des Sc. Math. et Astr. Ser. 2 Vol. 8, no. 1: pp. 162 – 175)
• 1926: Sir Thomas L. Heath: Euclid: The Thirteen Books of The Elements: Volume 1 (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Book $\text{I}$. Notes on the Common Notions