Dear fellow
American,
Asked by a reporter
in 1860 how he had acquired his extraordinary rhetorical skills, Abraham Lincoln
credited his study of Euclid.
While studying law
in Springfield, Lincoln explained, he became convinced that the ability to
demonstrate the truth of things was essential to the good practice of
law.
Consequently,
Lincoln left his job, retired to his fatherâs cabin, and did not return until he
could âgive any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight.â
By studying Euclid,
we improve our ability to reason soundly—plus, in my experience, the study
of Euclid can be great fun.
Thatâs why Hillsdale
College has produced a free online course on the topic âMathematics and
Logic: From Euclid to Modern Geometry.â
Through âMathematics and Logic:
From Euclid to Modern Geometry,â you will learn the importance of
deductive reasoning as a foundation for pursuing knowledge in all fields of
learning, as well as in everyday life.
