The Symbolic Universe: Geometry and Physics 1890-1930

The Symbolic Universe considers the ways in which many leading mathematicians between 1890 and 1930 attempted to apply geometry to physics. It concentrates on responses to Einstein's theories of special and general relativity, but also considers the philosophical implications of these ideas.
With the development of the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein, physics underwent a revolution at the end of the 19th century. The boundaries of research were extended still further when in 1907-8 Minkowski applied geometrical ideas to this area of physics. This in turn opened the door to other researchers seeking to use non-Euclidean geometrical methods in relativity, and many notable mathematicians did so, Weyl in particular linking these ideas with broader philosophical issues in mathematics. This is an overview of this exciting era, giving a full account of Minkowski's geometric reformulation of the theory of special relativity.