42 HUMANISM i, 



the Society for Psychical Research and deliver a lecture, 

 in your beautiful Attic, on the immortality of the soul ? 

 That would be very useful ; it might induce some few 

 really to concern themselves with what is to befall them 

 after death, and lead them perhaps to amend their lives. 

 I know the Secretary of the Society quite well, and I 

 think we could arrange a good meeting for you ! 



EiV^/^ei &vdpw7T. I could not think of such a 

 thing : it would be too degrading. Besides, to tell you 

 the truth, I have long ceased to feel any practical interest 

 in the generality of men and their world. I would do 

 something for you, but you already know and do not 

 need persuading. Can I not do something to benefit 

 you personally, whether it was useful, and therefore con 

 vincing, to others or not ? 



I suppose, Plato, it is conceivable that you could, 

 if you liked, but that it is very likely that you would 

 not like. 



I have already told you that I will do anything 

 short of mixing myself up with a world like yours. I 

 once tried it, soon after I came here, but I soon discovered 

 that Herakleitos was right in thinking that souls retained 

 their power of smell. Indeed, I suppose my nose must 

 have become absurdly sensitive, for I was driven back 

 by the stench of blood before I had got very far into its 

 sphere. I simply could not go on. 



I do not wonder. Things are as bad as ever in this 

 respect, except that we have grown more hypocritical 

 about our murders. But I can tell you how you could 

 not only help me, but even persuade the others. 



1 How ? 



By useful knowledge. 



Of what ? 



Could you not by some divination predict to me 

 what horses were about to win what races, or what 

 stocks were going to rise or fall how far ? Such know 

 ledge would be most useful and therefore truest by the 

 admission of all men : it would enable me to amass great 

 riches, and if I were rich enough all would believe 



