The notion of space in Grothendieck: from schemes to a geometry of forms

Abstract

In this essay we give a general picture about the evolution of Grohendieck's ideas regarding the notion of space. Starting with his fundamental work in algebraic geometry, where he introduces schemes and toposes as generalizations of classical notions of spaces, passing through tame topology and ending with the formulation of a geometry of forms, we show how the ideas of Grothendieck evolved from pure mathematical considerations to physical and philosophical questions about the nature and structure of space and its mathematical models.