Facelift on Website

The Structure of Reason website had a facelift. We are not done yet. A few things still to improve. But the site is ready for your pre-approval. Let us know what you think.

http://www.thestructureofreason.com/

david@thestructureofreason.com
dan@thestructureofreason.com

Thanks to Savas Beatie

From September 2013, Libri Novus, by Savas Beatie - (A side request from the authors: amazon.com reviews from those who have read the book really help). Thanks.

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Continued Success... 

Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason

The Three Lincolneers: Dan Van Haften, Hon. Frank J. Williams, and David Hirsch at the 15th Lincoln Forum Symposium, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November, 2010

 

Co-authors David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften work endlessly to promote their books. When Abraham Lincoln and the Structure ofReason was released in fall of 2010, they hit the ground running, setting up book signing events at libraries, clubs, and Civil War sites. Since then, they've had more than 50 events. Some highlights include presentations at the National Archives II and Ford's Theater, in China and various college English classes. The authors have sold hundreds of copies of their books to readers and every email update we receive has more good news.

Mr. Hirsch and Mr. Van Haften, thank you for your tireless work and endless promotion to tell the world about your discovery of Lincoln's speech writing code. You once said you were out to change the world...We think you just might.

Visualization of The Six Elements of a Proposition

Understand How This Works

Copyright 2013 by David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften

Structure

Structure, Structure, Structure, shalt thou pursue.

Enunciation
Exposition
Specification
Construction
Proof
Conclusion

see www.thestructureofreason.com

You Changed My Life

"You changed my life. I am going to study, practice, and remember your information." Bill Funchion, Adjunct Instructor of English, Waubonsee Community College, commenting on Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of and the revolutionary nature of the six elements of a proposition.

A New Section in thestructureofreason.com

Ellicott's Eloquence is a new section of our website. It contains a quotation from Andrew Ellicott's January 18, 1801, letter to Thomas Jefferson. It is an amazing observation of the emptiness of Aristotle, and the fulsome nature of Euclid.

It is time to throttle Aristotle!

Hasta la Vista Aristotle

You have heard of "Move Over Beethoven".

Well, Hasta la Vista Aristotle.

Check this link.

Electronic Filing

uscourts.gov sent email out today proclaiming:

"The DC-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has begun accepting electronic filings via the judiciary’s Case Management-Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system, joining every other federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy court in doing so."

While electronic filing is a huge step forward for the judicial branch and for the administration of justice, filing in Lincoln's era, whether by U.S. Mail, or in person, was fairly efficient (at least for the times). Air conditioning and indoor plumbing arguably were greater advances.

For more information check this link.

Interestingly the uscourts.gov link does not list the U.S. Supreme Court as accepting electronic filing. I remember early in my legal career flying to Washington, D.C., to file a U.S. Supreme Court document. Flying was necessary if one wanted to use every day possible for research and drafting. Now one can certify date of mailing, and that will be the date of filing. However electronic filing lets one work until 11:59 PM on the deadline date without wasting time driving to a mailbox.

Here is language the U.S. Supreme Court was playing with in 2007:

"An electronic version of every brief on the merits shall be transmitted
to the Clerk of Court and to opposing counsel of record at the time
the brief is filed in accordance with guidelines established by the Clerk.
The electronic transmission requirement is in addition to the
requirement that booklet-format briefs be timely filed."

The current U.S. Supreme Court filing rule reads:

"2. A document is timely filed if it is received by the Clerk within the time specified for filing; or if it is sent to the Clerk through the United States Postal Service by first-class mail (including express or priority mail), postage prepaid, and bears a postmark, other than a commercial postage meter label, showing that the document was mailed on or before the last day for filing; or if it is delivered on or before the last day for filing to a third-party commercial carrier for delivery to the Clerk within 3 calendar days. ..." Rule 29. Filing and Service of Documents U.S. Supreme Court Rule 29.

   -David Hirsch

Understanding Lincoln

The May 2012 edition of The Federal Lawyer (volume 59 number 4) contains an article by David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften, "Law Practice From Abraham Lincoln to Now". Largely excerpted from Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason, it is a fraction of what appears in the book. The article fills about eight pages in The Federal Lawyer. It is reproduced on thestructureofreason.com.

Mr. Speaker!

January 1, 2012, Macabbee's Deli in Des Moines. Shortly before the Iowa Caucus. 

It was one of the most exciting conversations David Hirsch has ever had:

 Newt Gingrich walked in three minutes early. That is unheard of. Bill Clinton used to be at least two hours late (at least when I saw him). Other candidates average at least 30 minutes late.

The Speaker started shaking hands, maybe three seconds a person. I was about the fourth person he shook hands with. I thanked him for his clarity on the middle east, then told him I wanted to give him a copy of a book about Lincoln that I co-authored, pulling it out as I talked. He looked at the cover, and asked, "Is this the book on geometry?" I said, "Yes." He said, "I have the book on my Kindle. It has changed the way I give speeches." He said he would accept the book only if I endorsed it. I opened the book to the already endorsed title page.

Photograph by Dr. Alan Koslow

The Logic of Siri

Siri, of course, is the Apple product within the new iPhone that responds to voice commands, providing answers and solutions.

People now revel in the absurd questions asked of Siri, and Siri's insipid responses. Could give some examples, but don't have the time.

Suffice it to say that it is truly the mark of a successful product that when it makes a mistake, the customer responds, "How cute!"

We treat Apple products like they are our children.

The Logic of Black Friday

This morning's Des Moines Register carries this Headline: "Stuffed!"
Below the Headline is large print: "Biggest newspaper of the year"

And big it looked. Until one separated the news from the paper. The news maybe equaled (or slightly exceeded) the size of a Tuesday edition, pretty skinny.

You know Black Friday has gone too far when the ad begins: Sale starts yesterday. Well that did not quite happen. But one second earlier for many ads would be yesterday (making it today - Thursday).

To top all this off, my niece's husband flew to New York for Black Friday sales. Sound extravagant? Well get this. My niece and her husband live near Jerusalem.

So on the day after much of the country gives thanks for what it has, it goes out and buys what it has not. As Yakov Smirnoff used to say, "What a country!"

Dan Van Haften discusses Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason

Chicago WGN Radio 720, "The Sunday Papers", book discussion with Rick Kogan. Click for Recording of complete interview.

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New Reader Review

There is a new reader review of Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason. It is of the Kindle edition (which is the same as the bound version word-wise). Like virtually all reader feedback, it is both helpful and gratifying. If you have read the book, and would like to post Amazon or Barnes and Noble reviews, please do not hesitate.

The Six Elements of a Proposition

The Structure of Reason has a new section on its website. It defines the six elements of a proposition.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

The online bookstore for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, Illinois, describes the book: "David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften delve into the logic, reason, and cognitive tools that fueled Lincoln's political and intellectual genius."

The Declaration of Independence

This evening Dan Van Haften is among a hundred cultural representatives in Grant Park (downtown Chicago) who will read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. Dan has a portion of one of the complaints listed in the the Declaration's Construction. What is meant by the Declaration's Construction? Examine one of the several significant discoveries in Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason.

The reading is an annual production of the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company.

Oral Argument

I argued an appeal in the Iowa Supreme Court this morning. Immediately got peppered with questions. No time to develop the six elements. But my brief was structured by Lincoln's/Euclid's six elements of a proposition. Not only did the six elements make for a better brief, it was easier (and quicker) to draft -- David Hirsch

What is this?

This is a picture of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad shaking hands with David Hirsch. All that appears of David is his hand, wrist, and a few inches of his arm. But the photographer did not miss the handshake. Rabbi Yossie Jacobson is in the background. It was at this meeting that the Governor was presented with a copy of Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason. See May 17, 2011, posting below.

Conscious or Unconscious?

A reader, who is an attorney, emails: "At this point in time I have read the preface, foreword and introduction to your book. I have one question. Perhaps it is answered in the book, if it is, just tell me, it’s answered in the book. Did Abraham Lincoln consciously apply the elements of a geometric proposition to his writings and speeches or did it just happen subconsciously because of his study of Euclid? It is interesting to me that I never did truly grasp algebra, but I did grasp geometry."

Response: There is a big difference between geometry (not including analytical geometry) and algebra. Euclidean geometry is based on language. Algebra is based on equations. In Euclidean geometry you see the big picture. In algebra you see tiny steps. Your question (about whether Lincoln consciously used the elements of a proposition -- or whether it was subconscious) is pretty much answered in the book. If, after reading the book, you don't think so, ask again.