Aug 16, 2012 abraham lincoln was not an especially wellread man, but what he read he retained, thought about and frequently used. If you have ever studied geometry, you remember that by a course of reasoning, euclid proves that all the angles in a triangle are equal to two right angles. Today we think of circle squarers as mathematical cranks. Lincoln studied them until he could demonstrate any proposition at sight. So he then went to his fathers home and studied the first six books of euclids elements, which are ancient greek texts about geometry. Abraham lincoln mastered the first six books to improve his reasoning skills, and albert einstein described euclidean geometry as a second wonder in his life. Dec 09, 2019 lincoln is mainly pressing the claims of small debt collectors or defending against them and studying euclids geometry at night by candlelight. The structure of reason david hirsch, dan van haften. Euclids elements of geometry university of texas at austin.
The mind of abraham lincoln and our common good commentary. This book was written about 2,300 years ago, by a greek scholar named euclid. With indepth research and provocative insight, abraham lincoln and the structure of reason offers a whole new angle on lincolns brilliance james m. Both lincoln and thomas jefferson admired and read euclids elements as a way to improve the mind and promote an individuals ability to think and reason logically. It is a collection of definitions, postulates, propositions theorems and constructions, and mathematical proofs of the propositions. Lincolns tragic pragmatism, by john burt the new york. Heiberg 18831885 accompanied by a modern english translation and a greekenglish lexicon. Which translation of euclids elements did abraham lincoln.
Right now im reading doris kearns goodwins team of rivals. The political genius of abraham lincoln, and from it i learned that not only did he read euclid, he spent some time trying to square the circle. Abraham lincoln was not an especially wellread man, but what he read he retained, thought about and frequently used. His family followed the frontier, and his accomplishments came. I also found the book to be, in essence, two books.
Stoicheia is a mathematical treatise consisting of books attributed to the ancient greek mathematician euclid in alexandria, ptolemaic egypt c. Lincoln and euclids elements quod erat demonstrandum an excerpt from ketchams the life of abraham lincoln. His book elements is one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics, serving as the main textbook for teaching mathematics especially geometry from the time of its publication until the late 19th. In this video i share the story of why he studied euclids elements.
Stoicheia is a mathematical and geometric treatise consisting of books written by the ancient greek mathematician euclid in alexandria c. At times he carried all six or some of the six depending on what his situation was. Stoicheia is a mathematical and geometric treatise consisting of books written by the ancient greek mathematician euclid in alexandria, ptolemaic egypt c. The authors conclusively demonstrate how the selftaught lincoln mastered euclidean geometry and used euclid s elements in his most famous speeches, including the gettysburg address and the cooper union address. It was march 1860, and the venue was norwich, connecticut.
Abraham lincoln went home to his fathers house, and stayed there until he could give any proposition in the six books of euclid at sight. Euclid s elements lincoln defines euclids first axiom and common notion for the engineer and telegrapher. American enterprise institute 1789 massachusetts avenue, nw washington, dc 20036 main telephone. Graduates included john adams and thomas jefferson, respectively. Lincoln then consulted other dictionaries and books but could not find a satisfactory answer. Utopian socialists, german communists, and other republicans. Abraham lincoln and the structure of reason by dan van haften. Dec 17, 2012 at the heart of steven spielberg s lincoln is a quiet scene between president abraham lincoln daniel daylewis and two young men, samuel beckwith adam driver and david homer bates drew sease, in an otherwise empty telegraph cipher office. Jan 30, 2015 i also found the book to be, in essence, two books. It was not just one of euclid s books but often more that h. His law partner billy herndon relates how lincoln studied euclids elements. Id heard a long time ago that abraham lincoln was a largely selftaught man and that he read euclids elements on his own.
Hirsch and van haften possess a barely restrained, almost giddy enthusiasm for what they seem to think is the answer to lincolns mind. Lessons learned from abraham lincolns old math book health. The emergence of abraham lincoln washington monthly. Bertrand russell was dazzled by euclid, though he became disillusioned later in life. An edition of euclids elements of geometry consisting of the definitive greek text of j.
One author he was fond of was the greek mathematician euclid. Understanding geometry helped organize lincoln s mind, his writing, and his political skills. But it was also a landmark, a way of constructing universal truths, a wonder that would outlast even the great lighthouse in euclids home city of alexandria. Euclids elements by euclid meet your next favorite book. Elements proposed a means to establish truth by proof which was influential on such figures as abraham lincoln. In keeping with green lions design commitment, diagrams have been placed on every spread for convenient reference while working through the proofs. Last month marked the 210th anniversary of abraham lincolns birth. Lincoln s preoccupation with euclid inspired the book abraham lincoln and the structure of reason by david hirsch and dan van haften. Cornelius, curator, lincoln collection, abraham lincoln presidential library and museum. In particular rhetoric is used often in the scene where lincoln is about to end the civil war but changes his mind after referring to euclids axioms and common notions. The books cover plane and solid euclidean geometry.
Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to each other. Book 12 calculates the relative volumes of cones, pyramids, cylinders, and spheres using the method of exhaustion. Lincolns reading list for a divided nation psychology today. The elements have been studied 24 centuries in many languages starting, of course, in the original greek, then in arabic, latin, and many modern languages. In treating of this topic, it will be necessary to recall certain things already mentioned. For me, a former high school geometry teacher and civil war buff, this was a thrilling realization, a moment of epiphany. Im creating this version of euclids elements for a couple of reasons. Why did abraham lincoln think that euclids elements were so. Jul 01, 2018 lincoln and euclids elements quod erat demonstrandum an excerpt from ketchams the life of abraham lincoln.
In it he sought to simplify euclids propositions even further. To the professional educator, lincoln is endlessly fascinating. Lincoln movie scene analysis english 120 portfolio. Scholars believe that the elements is largely a compilation of propositions based on books by earlier greek mathematicians proclus 412485 ad, a greek mathematician who lived around seven centuries after euclid, wrote in his commentary on the elements. Heaths translation of the thirteen books of euclids elements. The influence of euclids elements can be found in isaac newtons principia and kants critique of pure reason.
Geometry, euclid as the father of geometry flashcards. On the face of it, euclids elements was nothing but a dry textbook. Lincoln wanted to understand proof in a deeper way, and so he began studying a math book called the elements. Does he consider a peace proposal from a confederate delegation on its way to washington, and thus.
Lincoln, as a lawyer traveling on horseback would carry a copy of euclids. In addition to these first two documents, one of the most inspiring and important works of all for lincoln was euclids elements, the classic work by the founder of formal geometry. The elements greek, ancient to 1453 stoicheia is a mathematical treatise consisting of books attributed to the ancient greek mathematician euclid in alexandria, ptolemaic egypt c. John stauffer, harvard university english and history professor. Abraham lincoln and the structure of reason by dan van. Down through the centuries, over 2000 editions of the elements have appeared, a figure that must make the authors of todays mathematics textbooks drool with envy. The authors show how lincoln embedded this knowledge of the structure of geometry into some of his most important narratives. At the heart of steven spielbergs lincoln is a quiet scene between president abraham lincoln daniel daylewis and two young men, samuel beckwith adam driver and david homer bates drew sease, in an otherwise empty telegraph cipher office. Abraham lincoln and the structure of reasonnook book.
Two thousand years later, students still study euclidean geometry in school. Euclids elements of geometry was the core math text for close to 2000 years. For examples of lincolns specific references to euclid, see mr. Neverthelesss, abraham lincoln and the structure of reason is a flawed book, oddly lacking in the very qualities of clarity and focus the authors find so praiseworthy in lincoln. But it was also a landmark, a way of constructing universal truths, a wonder that would outlast even the great. Lincoln and squaring the circle posted by dave richeson on february 18, 2011 february 22, 2011 id heard a long time ago that abraham lincoln was a largely selftaught man and that he read euclids elements on his own. Euclid, who put together the elements, collecting many of eudoxus theorems, perfecting many of theaetetus, and also bringing to. In one thoughtful scene, lincoln sits in a teletype office and wrestles with the question of human and racial equality and the awful institution of slavery. Abraham lincoln studied euclids books, as did albert einstein. Abraham lincoln and the structure of reason by david hirsch. He was relying instead on euclids elements, the philosophical study the former congressman had read and reread during. Nov 19, 2012 steven spielberg directs twotime academy award winner daniel daylewis in lincoln, a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th presidents tumultuous final months in office.
Ppt euclids elements powerpoint presentation free to. Think of the scene in spielbergs lincolnin which he deduces the necessity for equality from the same axiomatic premises he recalls from reading euclids elements as a young man. D espite the mans awkward gestures, unkempt hair, and illfitting suit, it was one of the most extraordinary speeches that reverend john gulliver had ever heard. Why did abraham lincoln think that euclids elements were. Jun 01, 2010 abraham lincoln and the structure of reason makes the compelling argument that it was lincoln s application of euclid s first six books on geometry that provided the structure for his reason.
He was referring to the first six of books of euclids elements, an ancient greek mathematical text. One would be hard pressed to find a living college graduate who could pass the entrance exams of harvard or william and mary in the 17th or 18th centuries. This abraham lincoln and the structure of reason 2010 hardbound. The structure of reason is a basis for logical, reasoned persuasion. Euclids elements is by far the most famous mathematical work of classical antiquity, and also has the distinction of being the worlds oldest continuously used mathematical textbook. The authors conclusively demonstrate how the selftaught lincoln mastered euclidean geometry and used euclids elements in his most famous speeches, including the gettysburg address and the cooper union address. Dec 01, 2007 an edition of euclid s elements of geometry consisting of the definitive greek text of j. There were no illustrative examples, no mention of people, and no motivation for the analyses it presented. Reading karl marx with abraham lincoln international. May 28, 20 in one thoughtful scene, lincoln sits in a teletype office and wrestles with the question of human and racial equality and the awful institution of slavery. Book 1 contains euclids 10 axioms 5 named postulatesincluding the parallel postulateand 5 named axioms and the basic propositions of geometry. Because euclids book, elements, is still the basis for what we study today. Its core revelation is the proposition that abraham lincoln used the six elements of a geometric proposition as the structural framework for his major speeches from 1854 on. It is a collection of definitions, postulates axioms, propositions theorems and constructions, and mathematical proofs of the propositions.
Lincoln, too, was impacted by euclids certainty and precision, studying the first six books of the elements until he mastered them all. The main one is to rekindle an interest in the elements, and the web is a great way to do that. Green lion press has prepared a new onevolume edition of t. Does he consider a peace proposal from a confederate delegation on its way to washington, and thus perhaps. The authors describe how their work took shape in an interview on the book s website, where the authors claim to have cracked the code of lincoln s speeches, identifying the underlying structure that made. Apparently lincoln at any one time carried any one of the six books he had of euclid in his saddle bag. Abraham lincoln and the structure of reason makes the compelling argument that it was lincolns application of euclids first six books on geometry that provided the structure for his reason. Lessons learned from abraham lincolns old math book. As the excerpted quote suggests, lincoln did not casually or infrequently read the bible, blackstones commentaries and euclids elements. He harkens back to one of the great foundational texts of western civilization, euclids elements, a beautiful book of elementary geometry written over 2,000 years ago. The following morning gulliver struck up conversation with the speaker, a politician by the name of abraham lincoln, as he caught a train down to bridgeport.
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