Perhaps the most compelling sections of the book are those that ground logic in historical success. Sorensen highlights how logical mastery has, quite literally, made men rich. He recounts how the philosopher Voltaire secured his lifelong fortune by identifying and exploiting a fallacy in the construction of a Parisian lottery. Similarly, he describes how John Eck used the "Triple Contract"—a sequence of logical maneuvers—to sidestep usury laws, enriching German bankers in the 16th century. These examples transform logic from a passive academic exercise into an active, almost subversive, power that can reshape a person's material reality. Contradiction as Stimulation
The Mirror of Reason: Logic as Life in Roy Sorensen’s Cabinet A cabinet of philosophical curiosities: a colle...
The central thesis of Sorensen’s collection is that logic is everywhere, particularly where we least expect it. He draws inspiration from Ian Stewart’s mathematical miscellanies , aiming to show "the interesting logic that can be found outside the classroom". Instead of relying solely on standard syllogisms, Sorensen presents a dizzying array of formats: short essays, dialogues, tributes to logicians like Lewis Carroll , and even "cures and insults". This variety serves a philosophical purpose, suggesting that truth is not a monolithic entity but something that can be approached through a pun, a poem, or a paradox. The Practical Power of the Paradox Perhaps the most compelling sections of the book