Euclid... gave his famous definition of a point: "A point is that which has no parts, or which has no magnitude." ...A point has no existence by itself. It exists only as a part of the pattern of relationships which constitute the geometry of Euclid. This is what one means when one says that a point is a mathematical abstraction. The question, What is a point? has no satisfactory answer. Euclid's definition certainly does not answer it. The right way to ask the question is: How does the concept of a point fit into the logical structure of Euclid's geometry? ...It cannot be answered by a definition. (Freeman Dyson)

Euclid... gave his famous definition of a point: "A point is that which has no parts, or which has no magnitude." ...A point has no existence by itself. It exists only as a part of the pattern of relationships which constitute the geometry of Euclid. This is what one means when one says that a point is a mathematical abstraction. The question, What is a point? has no satisfactory answer. Euclid's definition certainly does not answer it. The right way to ask the question is: How does the concept of a point fit into the logical structure of Euclid's geometry? ...It cannot be answered by a definition.

Freeman Dyson

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abstraction answer ask concept constitute definition euclid existence fit geometry magnitude pattern point question right satisfactory structure way means parts

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