Plea for Euclid - some comments
2000.10.10 10:54
Just read Cache's "Plea for Euclid" (in ANY 24) and here are some comments:
1. the outline of the history of Euclidean and non Euclidean geometry that Cache provides in the initial portion of the essay is virtually the same history available 50 years ago (e.g., "The Nature of Geometry" in Reichenback's The Rise of Scientific Philosophy). Without being explicit about it, Cache too seems to feel that the recent architectural (avant-garde) notion of using non-Euclidean geometry is in need of correction and clarification.
2. Cache briefly mentions the problems (often) encountered with CAD-CAM produced parts machined to extremely low tolerances that, when assembled on site, have difficulties fitting together. Cache has made a career as a CAD-CAM designer, so I believe anything he says on that subject is worth a listen. I found myself wondering whether architects should be taught more about physical world tolerances before learning about sophisticated geometries. [I then also found myself thinking that by and large architects are trained to be extremely INTOLERANT of anything that doesn't 'fit' properly. (Should the new schools of architecture be schools of tolerance?)]
3. the latter half of Cache's essay provides a (so far) unique analysis of the 'natural' geometric deformities that CAD-CAM engenders, and it is here the 'plea for Euclid' comes through. Essentially, Cache finds that all kinds of strange and unexpected geometries manifest themselves within the very Euclidean system of CAD-CAM.
4. In the end, it is interesting that Cache very much advocates a study of 'parallels'.
Steve Lauf
|