VU1 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 be well for 

 us not to forget is, that the first -recorded judicial 

 murder of a scientific thinker was compassed and 

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

 brought about by eloquent demagogues, to whom, 

 of all men, thorough searchings of the intellect 

 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 philo- 

 sophy is probably the grandest example of the 

 unscientific use of the imagination extant ; and it 



