viii PREFACE 



modern, as contrasted with the ancient spirit. 

 It is true that the isolated greatness of Socrates 

 was founded on intellectual and moral character- 

 istics of the same order. He also persisted in 

 demanding that no man should "take anything 

 for truth without a clear knowledge that it is 

 such," and so constantly and systematically 

 shocked authority and shook traditional security, 

 that the fact of his being allowed to live for seventy 

 years, if one comes to think of it, is evidence of the 

 patient and tolerant disposition of his Athenian^ 

 compatriots, which should obliterate the memory 

 of the final hemlock. That which it may he well 

 for us not to forget is, that the first-recorded ju- 

 dicial murder of a scientific thinker was compassed 

 and effected, not by a despot, nor by priests, but 

 was brought about by eloquent demagogues, o 

 whom, of all men, thorough searchings of the intel- 

 lect are most dangerous and therefore most hateful. 

 The first agnostic, the man who, so far as 

 the records of history go, was the first to see that 

 clear knowledge of what one does not know 

 is just as important as knowing what one does 

 know, had no true disciples; and the greatest of 

 those who listened to him, if he preserved the 

 fame of his master for all time, did his best to 

 counteract the impulse towards intellectual clear- 

 ness which Socrates gave. The Platonic i^iilo- 

 sophy is probably the' grandest example of the 

 i unscientific use of the imagination extant; and it 



