David Hilbert’s Foundations of Geometry stands as a testament to the remarkable evolution of geometry in the 19th century. As he lays out in his work, geometry transitioned from a primarily physical concern, focused on describing the space around us, to an axiomatic approach that provided a solid foundation for the field. Hilbert’s idea that we should be able to describe everyday objects in the same terms we use for points and lines made his axiomatic system accessible and relevant to the world outside of mathematics. His work continues to be a touchstone for those seeking a better understanding of the foundations of geometry.
