178 CREATIVE INVOLUTION 



Yet anybody who has the least acquaintance with 

 geometry will not deny that such a conception of the 

 science is in flat contradiction to the ordinary language 

 of geometricians. 



How so? 



They have in view practice only, and are always 

 speaking, in a narrow and ridiculous manner, of squar- 

 ing and extending and applying and the like they con- 

 fuse the necessities of geometry with those of daily 

 life; whereas knowledge is the real object of the whole 

 science. 



Certainly, he said. 



Then must not a further admission be made? 



What admission? 



That the knowledge at which geometry aims is knowl- 

 edge of the eternal, and not of aught perishing and 

 transient. 



That, he replied, may be readily allowed, and is true. 



Then, my noble friend, geometry will draw the soul 

 towards truth, and create the spirit of philosophy, and 

 raise up that which is now unhappily allowed to fall 

 down. 



Nothing will be more likely to have such an effect. 



Then nothing should be more sternly laid down than 

 that the inhabitants of your fair city should by all means 

 learn geometry." 



PLATO : The Republic. 



" How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me 

 in words the mysteries of Spaceland. 



7. ... But before your Lordship enters into further 

 communications, would he deign to satisfy the curios- 

 ity of one who would gladly know whence his Visitor 

 came ? 



