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Description

Sectional Committee: Mathematics

Recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions as it stands, unless the author wishes to make any amendements. The paper presents various features of novelty and interest, the principle ones perhaps being assuming only one kind of objective entity, analogous to a straight line, and the theory of dimensions given in the paper, which is very ingenious. Mathews has only read a part of the symbolical propositions in the paper and cannot criticise them in detail. Whether or not Whitehead's system will lead to a reconstruction of dynamics, it is premature to say, Whitehead makes some very interesting suggestions regarding mass. Summarises Whitehead's theory, if he understands it correctly, which involves the possibility of both negative and positive atoms of electricity at one point, and corresponding 'quantities' or 'molecules' of each kind of electricity distributed throughout any finite volume.

[Published in Philosophical Transactions A, 1906].

Endorsed on verso as received 5 October 1905.

Reference number
RR/16/399
Earliest possible date
October 1905
Physical description
Standardised form (type A)
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

George Ballard Mathews

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Citation

George Ballard Mathews, Referee's report by George Ballard Mathews, on a paper 'Mathematical concepts of the material world' by Alfred North Whitehead, October 1905, RR/16/399, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_16_399/referees-report-by-george-ballard-mathews-on-a-paper-mathematical-concepts-of-the-material-world-by-alfred-north-whitehead, accessed on 08 November 2024

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  • Referee Reports

    Date: 1832-1954

    This collection contains reports on scientific papers submitted for publication to the Royal Society. Started in 1832 when the system was formalised, it is a record of the origins of peer review publishing in practice.

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