The doctoral thesis completed by Richard Baldus in 1910 examined ray systems containing infinitely many second-degree ruled surfaces. This early work laid the academic foundation for a career focused on geometry and the rigorous examination of mathematical axioms. Born in Thessaloniki in 1885, he spent his professional life operating within the German university system until his death in Munich in 1945.
Academic Formation
After completing his Abitur at the Wilhelmsgymnasium München in 1904, Baldus pursued advanced studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the University of Erlangen. Under the supervision of Max Noether, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in 1910. He subsequently achieved his Habilitierung in 1911, qualifying him to teach at the university level.
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In 1919, Baldus accepted a professorship for geometry at the Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe, where he served as rector from 1923 to 1924. He moved to the Technical University of Munich in 1932 to assume a professorship in geometry, succeeding Sebastian Finsterwalder. By 1934, he took over the professorial chair previously held by Walther von Dyck following that successor's retirement.
Research and Academic Service
His research contributions were broad, covering non-Euclidean geometry and the axiomatization of geometric systems. In 1928, he acted as an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Bologna. He further served the mathematical community as president of the Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung in 1933. His scholarly standing was reflected in his election to the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in 1929 and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities in 1935.
Key Publications
Beyond his initial thesis, Baldus authored numerous works addressing the foundations of mathematics, including his 1924 text Formalismus und Intuitionismus in der Mathematik and his 1927 volume on hyperbolic geometry. His investigations into axioms, particularly regarding Archimedean and Cantor's axioms, appeared in various journals such as Mathematische Annalen and the proceedings of the international congresses held during the 1920s and 1930s.
Fast facts
- Born: 1885, Thessaloniki
- Died: 1945, Munich
- Citizenship: Germany
- Education: University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
- Academic focus: Geometry
- Professional affiliations: Technical University of Munich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Learned societies: Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Questions readers ask
Which mathematician supervised the doctoral work of Richard Baldus?
Max Noether supervised his doctoral thesis at the University of Erlangen in 1910.
What subjects did Richard Baldus teach at the university level?
He was a professor of geometry at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Munich.
Achievements
- Held posts at Technical University of Munich and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
