The Universality of the Symmetry Concept

István Hargittai () and Magdolna Hargittai ()
Additional contact information
István Hargittai: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Materials Structure and Modeling Research Group
Magdolna Hargittai: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Materials Structure and Modeling Research Group

Chapter Chapter 40 in Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, 2015, pp 603-618 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The notion of symmetry brings together beauty and usefulness, science and economy, mathematics and human relations. This presentation demonstrates the breadth and versatility of the symmetry concept. There are no symmetries specific to various disciplines, yet there are differences in emphasis in applications of the concept. The sciences, humanities and arts have gradually drifted apart; symmetry can provide a connecting link among them. The symmetry concept may be broadened to include harmony and proportion, constituents of symmetry often present in architectural composition. The symmetries considered here are point group, chiral, space group, and translational. While mathematical symmetry is exact and rigorous, the symmetry we encounter in everyday life is much more relaxed. The broad interpretation of the symmetry concept, coming close to blending fact and fantasy, may help scientists recognize trends, changes, and patterns.

Keywords: Bilateral Symmetry; Regular Polygon; Symmetry Element; Golden Ratio; Chiral Molecule (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-00137-1_40

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783319001371

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-00137-1_40

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().