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.

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

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.