Deflating Hyperspace

[Monte Davis]

Laura:
  
> I mean, when TRP talks about quaternions, Riemann space, and 
> zeta functions, is he merely name-dropping?... How 
> much of the math and science does TRP appear to understand 
> from what he writes in ATD?

Can he formulate and solve problems in those disciplines? I doubt it; that's
a skill that needs steady exercise. Does he understand them at a solid
undergraduate level -- say, as well as a good science writer who tests his
comprehension in discussions with practitioners? Yes.  

> Calling forth the atmosphere of the science and math communities of the 
> early 20th century?  Calling forth the atmosphere of the 
> popular understanding of science and math of that day?

His Gottingen is certainly in tune with the memoirs I've read of people who
were there. Your last line is, I think, the key: the science and math in AtD
are less about what the scientists were doing than about what the rest of us
hoped for from it, and projected onto it.