6 GREAT MEN OF SCIENCE 



Furthermore, they were effectively protected from all 

 criticism by physical force, which was all the easier since 

 these writings were not readily accessible; and their influence 

 was therefore extremely injurious. Everything that then 

 happened, even when it already showed strong signs of new 

 progress, was in this way guided amiss, and thus robbed of 

 its effect on intellectual progress. We may remember, for 

 example, the ceniury-long misdirection of the heroic spirit 

 through the Crusades. 



Aristotle, who lived before Euclid (384-322 B.C.), appears 

 to us, when we compare him with the great men who 

 preceded and succeeded him, mainly in the character of a 

 prolific author; he is an obvious symptom of degeneration. 

 He assumes the role of omniscience in all matters, and 

 claims to present the last word of wisdom. This at least was 

 the impression he made on his feebly gifted successors, and 

 hence his works were saved to a surprising extent from 

 destruction, although they were hidden for a time. We 

 know no more of his personal life than of that of Euclid and 

 Archimedes.^ The fact that he was followed almost blindly 

 for a thousand years, did not depend upon him, but upon the 

 men who lived during that period. All his statements 

 concerning natural phenomena could easily have been 

 tested; in fact very easily, since they mostly related to facts 

 of our everyday surroundings, which anyone with leisure 

 can examine with any degree of accuracy. But people had 



attitude affected, at a time when the actual facts were completely un- 

 known, even men of science of the highest rank such as Kepler and 

 Newton, who were faithful seekers in the world of spirit. Thus Kepler 

 for example, in the introduction to the fifth book of the Harmonies, inno- 

 cently remarks in his joy over a great success: 'Yes ! I have stolen the 

 golden vessels of the Egyptians.' Or Newton, who attempts in his 

 latest writings to arrive at the exact construction of the temple at Jeru- 

 salem as a matter that men of his character must necessarily regard as 

 precious and important to salvation. 



^ It was reported that Aristotle, who came from the south of Greece, 

 was small and slim in figure, dainty in his behaviour, and inclined to 

 sarcasm in conversation. 



