SCIENCE IN THE DARK AGE 



AN obvious distinction between the classical and 

 /v mediaeval epochs may be found in the fact that 

 the former produced, whereas the latter failed to pro- 

 duce, a few great thinkers in each generation who were 

 imbued with that scepticism which is the foundation 

 of the investigating spirit ; who thought for themselves 

 and supplied more or less rational' explanations of 

 observed phenomena. Could we eliminate the work 

 of some score or so of classical observers and thinkers, 

 the classical epoch would seem as much a dark age as 

 does the epoch that succeeded it. 



But immediately we are met with the question : Why 

 do no great original investigators appear during all 

 these later centuries ? We have already offered a part 

 explanation in the fact that the borders of civilization, 

 where racial mingling naturally took place, were peo- 

 pled with semi-barbarians. But we must not forget 

 that in the centres of civilization all along there were 

 many men of powerful intellect. Indeed, it would vio- 

 late the principle of historical continuity to suppose 

 that there was any sudden change in the level of men- 

 tality of the Roman world at the close of the classical 

 period. We must assume, then, that the direction in 

 which the great minds turned was for some reason 

 changed. Newton is said to have alleged that he made 



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