PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

The life and work of Hermann G & uuml;nther Gra ss mann (1809-1877) attract not only ever again the attention of mathematicians, mathematical historians and those interested in the history of mathematics, they constitute also a challenge for the methodology of historiographical research. This challenge persists since Friedrich Engel's biography of 1911; there, two sources were presented and interpreted in a not legitimate manner which even mislead since then various scholars. This paper faces the intricate task to unravel not only the methodological shortcomings of Engel's biography, but also to re-assess the misinterpretations - particularly of alleged influences on Gra ss mann's approaches - induced by Engel's misleading claims. Based upon broader historically contextualised analyses of Gra ss mann's innovative elements in his theory of extension and upon new primary sources for his student times at the Gymnasium and Berlin University, the paper presents a novel assessment of Gra ss mann's approaches.