Ernst Barthel

I tried Google Translate and it's not bad as far as translating software goes. The text below obviously needs a lot of work, but one can get the gist of what the Author is saying nevertheless. So for those who are interested, I translated the Table of Contents and the Foreward of Ernst Barthel's book Die Erde als Totalebene. As you will see, it will take a determined reader to wade through this to try and decipher what the author is saying as it is quite academic.

Cal

"The Earth as a Totally Level Plane: Hyperbolic Theory of Space with a Preliminary Study of Conic Sections

The Greek Spirit

"Each new insight creates new problems, and often more than they eliminate." -- Du Prel.

Table of Contents

Foreward p. 1
Preliminary study of elementary curves:
Chapter I: Their metaphysical deduction p. 3
Chapter II: x²=a²-y²tg³ p. 15
Chapter III: x=a-ytg^alpha p. 21
Chapter IV: x²=p(p-2y) p. 32
Chapter V: On the ratio of the ellipse and hyperbola p. 43
Chapter VI: Reasons against the ellipsoidal hypothesis about the shape of the earth p. 57
Chapter VII: The Earth as a totally flat plane p. 80
Chapter VIII: Additions and Supplements p. 95
Epilogue p. 109

Foreword
The reader who wishes first to be informed of the main aspirations of the book would, direct his attention to Chapter VI-VII. But the reading of mathematical and metaphysical preliminary investigation to the true understanding and the main idea is absolutely necessary. I ask everyone urgently not to be deterred by the more abstract the beginning, but bravely to defeat him in the hope that it will be worth it.

The following points of the contents are advised of special attention:
1. The classification, we give to the so-called conic sections.
2. The mentioned in IV characteristics and parabolic equations, and our theory of the shape of the heavens.
3. The parallel by treating the problem in two places.
4. The opposition of an elliptically: Hyperbolic as round and flat.
5. The concept of complementary elliptical.
6. The full significance for epistemology of figures claim that there greatest routes, as there is a maximum angle.
7. The teaching that the length of infinity is not measurable.
8. The theorem "The level [as a category] is not a fragment, but totality."
9. The new mathematics of the straight line.
10. The main result: The Earth is not a sphere, but totally level.

In line with the scope of our cause, we ask for here opened problems where professional and conviction permit, literary advocate. That everyone will be with my teachings at once thrilled agree, I can not hope. Well but it seems to me possible that a part of those who read my statements, recognize the unprecedented weakness of the previous idea about the shape of the earth with wonder, convinced of the authority of the issues raised and make our doubts about theirs. This doubting of what is believed to date is only necessary for one one before the truth of the new doctrine, sooner or later. The old opinion about the shape of the earth only needs to be shaken; then it also falls. Because it is strangely foolish."

The philosophical special purpose of this study was to provide a satisfactory theory of space on a strictly non-psychological, metaphysical basis, because I have to judge the usual scholarly conceptions of space as confused and unthinkable. The Sir criticism is asked not futile excited about the audacity of the author, but the readers and me to enjoy themselves either by friendly agreement or to teach through thorough insights. Because you should care less about people and more for truths everywhere.

Strassburg, August 1913      E.B.