Leonhard Euler

The Euler diagrams that we use in analyzing arguments are named in honor of the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783; pronounced "oiler").

Although we are citing his use of diagrams in logic, Euler made much more significant contributions to many other areas of mathematics, including the theory of calculus, mathematical physics, and algebra. Students of high school algebra are familer with the number e (an irrational number, approximately equal to 2.718, that is the base of the natural logarithm) which is named in his honor.

Euler's mathematical contributions are even more impressive when we take into account that fact that much of his most significant work was accomplished after he became totally blind at the age of 59.