Zusammenfassung
Instead of giving an elementary geometric definition Leibniz tried to characterize similarity by a universal principle as follows: Two things are similar which are indiscernible when each is considered by itself. Thus two squares in the same plane may show many differences when one regards their relation to each other; for instance the sides of the one may be inclined by 34° against the sides of the other. But if each is taken as an independent entity one has to admit that every objective statement made about one will hold for the other, in this sense they are indiscernible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Weyl, H. (2017). Similarity and congruence: a chapter in the epistemology of science. In: Symmetrie. Springer Spektrum, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52711-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52711-5_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer Spektrum, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-52710-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-52711-5
eBook Packages: Life Science and Basic Disciplines (German Language)