[HM] porisms

Jim Murdock (jmurdock@iastate.edu)
Thu, 28 Jan 1999 13:53:19 -0600

Is the word porism related to the word aporia? An aporia (or is that form
plural only?) appears to be a difficulty left unresolved by a particular
philosophy, and frequently the starting point of another philosophy--as
some of Plato's philosophy is often considered to be a response to aporia
in the philosophy of Parmenides.

I assume the "a" in aporia means "not," so a correct understanding of
aporia could illuminate the meaning of porism. Antreas gave the root, but
declined to discuss the meaning. Maybe if we beg, we can pry it out of him.l

..............................
Jim Murdock
Mathematics Dept.
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011