A Network of Christians in Science

Dear ASA Members & Friends (Please RSVP by return e-mail whether or not you can attend the meeting.  Thanks!):

We have a special treat coming up at our next meeting in three weeks, December 1^st.  This is the Thursday after Thanksgiving—the national holiday proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln, the subject of our meeting.

Abraham Lincoln is consistently ranked in the top three of America’s greatest presidents for his leadership during the Civil War and the eloquence of his speeches.  In this 150^th anniversary year of his inauguration as President, we will learn about a recently discovered scientific side of him.  Dan Van Haften, a PhD electrical engineer from Batavia and co-author of the groundbreaking book of the same name, will speak on:

“Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason”

ABSTRACT
Many students of Abraham Lincoln have marveled at the eloquence of his speeches, letters and legal arguments, and wondered at the means by which he wrote them.  This talk will demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Lincoln’s interest in science and mathematics led him to adopt the structure found in  the long-forgotten six elements of a Euclidean proposition to create his post-1853 speeches, letters, and arguments.  In addition to explaining how this came about, the talk will demonstrate that the persuasive and powerful Euclidean structure was also used by Sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Jefferson, and that the American legal process is in fact based on this structure.  Besides Lincoln’s interest in mathematics and science (he is the only president with a U.S. Patent), Lincoln was a student of the Bible and had strong theological themes in a number of his most famous speeches.  Some of these will be examined to demonstrate his use of the six elements, with the hope that others will be inspired to learn the powerful approach too!

There are three fun aspects to this fascinating talk:

• The first is that it is about two men, Dan Van Haften and David Hirsch, friends since first grade who, when Van Haften retired from Alcatel-Lucent, decided to write a book on Abraham Lincoln—a field in which there were already 16,000 books written, none by them.
• The second is a classic American success story.  Who would have guessed that their diligent, methodical detective work would lead to something that had been eluding Lincoln scholars for 150 years!  Their discovery led John Stauffer, Harvard Chair of History of American Civilization and Professor of English and African and African American Studies, to remark, “…(T)his book, one of the most stunningly original works on Abraham Lincoln to appear in years, was written not by a Lincoln scholar but by practitioners: a lawyer and an engineer.” 
• The third is that you will personally benefit from their discovery.  In fact, the authors, in their introduction to the book, make the bold assertion that “Almost any literate person can become an Abraham Lincoln.  We show how.”  Regardless of our profession or daily life, we communicate, often with the intent of persuasion.  Wouldn’t you like to be able to communicate and persuade like Abraham Lincoln?

 Here are some reviewers’ comments on the book:

“A brilliant study…The authors conclusively demonstrate how the self-taught Lincoln mastered Euclidean Geometry and used the structure provided by the six elements of a Euclidean proposition in his most famous speeches, including the Gettysburg Address and the Cooper Union Address.  Understanding geometry helped organize Lincoln’s mind, his writing, and his political skills.  To David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften, all students of Abraham Lincoln and our democracy are indebted.”

-        Frank L. Williams, Chair, The Lincoln Forum, and Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island

“No one has examined Euclidean logic alongside Lincoln’s rhetorical and written construction as thoroughly as Messrs. Hirsch and Van Haften, and the results are startling.  Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason offers a wholly new angle on Lincoln’s brilliance.”

-        James M. Cornelius, Curator, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

 

AGENDA
“Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason”
Presented by Dan Van Haften, Co-author of the Book by the Same Name
Wheaton/Naperville Chapter of the American Scientific Affiliation
Thursday, December 1, 2011
At Wheaton College
DINNER (optional): 6:00 p.m. at Anderson Commons Dining Facility, South Party Room, Todd M. Beamer Student Center
LECTURE:  7:00 P.M. at Wheaton College Science Center, Lecture Hall 145

I.  5:50 p.m.– Attendees arrive on campus
For detailed directions to the Wheaton College campus, go to http://www.wheaton.edu/visit/maps.html   The best place to park is the new parking lot at the northeast corner of College and Howard, across and down the street (Howard) from the Science Center.  If that’s full, note that visitors may park in any lot with a “W” sign.   After parking, come to the Beamer center main entrance—the cafeteria is located straight ahead after entering.  If you do not wish to buy dinner, but want to join us for conversation, see III.

If you wish to purchase a dinner the cost will be ~$10.50. Go to the cash line, on the right.  After you pay, pick up a tray and silverware and help yourself to whatever food items you like.  Then proceed directly with your tray/food to the South Party Room (see diagram above)—as you leave the food selection area, go to the middle-right side of the cafeteria and down the hall through the exit turnstile.  The room is on your left.

III.  6:10-6:50 p.m.– dinner/conversation (the south Party Room)
Whether or not you purchase dinner, pick up your nametag and join other members and guests for lively conversation at one of the dining tables! 

If you are skipping dinner but want to join us for discussion, simply turn to the right as you enter the Beamer Center at the Dining Hall entrance, and go down the hall to the South Party Room--please arrive no later than 6:20.

IV.  6:50 p.m.—WALK TO THE SCIENCE CENTER, LECTURE HALL 145
The Science Center is directly behind (East of) the Beamer Center at University Place and Howard.  If you are coming directly from the parking lot, enter the main entrance on Howard; Lecture Hall 145 is to your right as indicated on the map.  Please arrive by 6:55 p.m. to get a seat.  

V.  7:00 -7:15 p.m.– Announcements AND INTRODUCTION

VI.  7:15-8:15 – Presentation
“Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason,” by Dr. Dan Van Haften, co-author with David Hirsch of the book by the same name