Flatland: a romance of many dimensions

Grades:  Post-Sec.
URL: http://downlode.org/etext/flatland/index.html
ENC#: ENC-020810
Publisher: downlode.org
Date: 2001
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Subjects:

	Mathematics Geometry. Logic. Process skills. Spatial representations. Visualization.
	Integrated/interdisciplinary approaches Language arts. Literature.

Resource Type:
Literature; Math and science background information.

Media Type:
Internet resource.

Abstract:
This Internet site contains a reproduction of the print version of the science fiction book, Flatland written by Edwin Abbott (). Flatland was written for laypersons and students of mathematics and geometry. The story explores the nature of space and dimension by imagining universes and characters that are composed of only one and two dimensions. These characters are unable to envision higher dimensions because such dimensions exist neither in their range of conception nor in their natural understandings. This situation mirrors man's inability to accurately conceive, save through conjecture, a fourth dimension.

The author works to expand the readers understanding of space time and dimension by rigorously examining the way in which creatures of lesser dimension would explore their world. One example of this exploration is contained in the observations that a two-dimensional square makes about a one-dimensional line: It seemed that this poor ignorant Monarch --as he called himself-- was persuaded that the Straight Line which he called his Kingdom, and in which he passed his existence, constituted the whole of the world, and indeed the whole of Space. Not being able either to move or to see, save in his Straight Line, he had no conception of anything out of it.

It should be noted that, written in a time when popular belief held to many stereotypes and biases against women, the book propagates as well as satirizes many of the biases and stereotypes of the time. Abstracted 11/01. (Author/AMS)