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 father’s cabin, and did not return until he could “give
any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight.”
By studying Euclid, we improve our
ability to reason soundly—plus, in my experience, the study of Euclid can
be great fun.
That’s why Hillsdale College has
produced a free online course on the topic “Mathematics and
Logic: From Euclid to Modern Geometry.”
Through “Mathematics and
Logic: From Euclid to Modern Geometry,” 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.
