The Philosopher's Stone                                                       
               A monthly short story dedicated to understanding the history of human thought

      In 1854 German mathematics graduate student Bernard Riemann performed a most nimble feat of intellectual gymnastics. He, to secure a university teaching position, successfully challenged the ancient Greek philosopher Euclid’s fifth geometric postulate. This most daunting of tasks, 70 years later, then proved exceedingly valuable to Albert Einstein’s crusade to reveal the true nature of the universe. Read the story of how these two 1st rate intellects, and a few others, forever changed the way our species perceives space and time. 

      When Edwin Hubble started looking at stars through his telescope our species thought it inhabited a universe limited to the confines of its own Milky Way galaxy. After this most remarkable of astronomers had finished, the Milky Way represented just one among billions of galaxies in an almost unimaginable vast universe. How can one man, starring at stars, make such an enormous difference in so short a period of time?

      The preceding two paragraphs represent topics to be covered in upcoming issues of the Philosopher’s Stone. The Philosopher’s Stone is a well written, thoroughly researched, intellectually engaging and all around entertaining story dedicated to understanding the history of human thought. On the 1st of each month the reader receives, through the E-mail system, a story on some topic chosen from the disciplines of history, science, or mathematics that irrecoverably altered the course of the human river. Our species evolved into existence 150,000 years ago, and from that time to this we have not stop teaching ourselves about every aspect of the environment we inhabit. These short stories will endeavor mightily to understand the successes of that continuing struggle. We will peer into the past and watch as our ancient cousins the Babylonians, the Indians, the Arabs, and those clever Greeks develop one of man’s greatest inventions, the zero. We pay a visit to the Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev as he organizes our Periodic Table of the Elements, and transforms chemistry into one of the power houses of science. With all his genius Napoleon will teach us the art of war, the lessons of government, and the tragic results of unchecked ambition.  For our next story however, due 1/01/08, will spend time with an 18th century self taught clockmaker named John Harrison.  John,a man with little formal education, single-mindedly pursued over a 40 year period a government sponsored $10 million prize, and in the process solved a tricky scientific problem that had baffaled some of humanity's finest for the better part of human history.

      The author, understanding all too well the futility of attempting to grasp the full length and breadth of human thought, would like to pause and issue a warning. He will undoubtedly make factual mistakes, misinterpret events and intentions, fail to grasp subtleties understood by specialists, and by painting such a broad stroke frustrate dedicated readers searching for depth on a particular topic. It will be a fools journey, but let’s dear reader proceed together. If you, your children, or someone you know could enjoy reading these stories, please send a name, an E-mail address, and a check or money order in the amount of $60.00 made out to the Philosopher’s Stone to 409 Bramblewood Lane, Knoxville, Tn. 37922.  If you have any questions contact the author by calling (865) 973-3489 or send an E-mail to Jerrhogan@yahoo.com.  Please note all E-mail addresses will remain confidential.

About the author: The author, Jerry Hogan, lives and works in Knoxville, Tn. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and French Literature) from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He also enjoyed the opportunity to study European history at Swansea University, Swansea, Wales and French civilization at the University of Paris, Paris, France.