Academic Program
On Euclid
A conversation with St. John's students, conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, April 8, 2003.On studying Euclid at St. John's:
"In my high school math class, the same proposition that we might be studying now would have been taught arbitrarily. When you actually study Euclid directly and work though his proofs, you see things differently." - Ms. Davenport
"One of the most important things about the Elements is that it shows the reader how to draw sharp distinctions between first principles and the conclusions drawn from such principles. The definitions, postulates, and common notions are separated very clearly and simply from the propositions that are extrapolated from them." - Ms. Davenport
"The topic of mathematics is so archetypal. It fits in so well with everything else. What you end up having in Euclid is like a blank template for organizing thoughts on just about anything. These organizing principles do not apply only to mathematics. You can organize almost any system of thought based on the way these ideas are developed." - Mr. Parker
On the application of Euclid beyond the classroom:
"The one part of life I don't think that Euclid applies to is the emotional or irrational part of life. Mathematics just doesn't seem applicable to emotional areas." - Ms. Silgals
"Actually I'm not so sure. I remember a conversation I had outside of class about Book 7 of the Elements in which Euclid discusses prime numbers. I remember saying that it seems like the relationships Euclid describes can be applied beyond the world of numbers." - Ms. Davenport
"I can agree with that. Nonetheless, there must be certain areas of life where mathematics is not applicable. There are some things that I just can't explain rationally, like certain feelings or responses, like falling in love." - Ms. Silgals
"I think the whole program is about helping you to develop your own philosophy, how you see the world, aided by the writers we read." -Mr. Utter
Participants
Todd Parker, Maryland
Mary Davenport, Alaska
Christopher Utter, Ohio
Patrick Sullivan, Michigan
Jennifer Silgals, South Carolina
Jesse Sherman, New York
Amirthanayagam David, tutor
Note - In St. John's seminars, students and tutors address each other by their last names to maintain decorum and respect in a tightly knit community.
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