A Life of Socrates by Dr. G. Wiggers [pp. 236-265]

1tis Opinion of Physical Sceence.
progress in physical science, even according to the crude opinions of his day. He says himself, "I once heard a person
reading in a book, which he said was written by Anaxagoras,
and saying that reason arranged all things, and was the cause
of them. With this cause I was much delighted, and in some
manner it appeared to me quite correct, that reason should be
the cause of all things. If it be true, I thought, that reason
arranges all things, it arranges and places every thing where it
is best. Now, if any body wanted to find the cause by which
every thing arises, perishes, or exists, he must find the manner
in which a thing exists, suffers, or acts best. For this reason I
thought only that investigation, the object of which is the most
excellent and the best, to be adapted for man both for himself
as well as other things; and he who succeeded in this must, at
the same time, know that which is bad, for both are objects of
the same science. Reflecting upon this subject I was delighted,
as I thought I had found in Anaxagoras a teacher after my
own heart, who could open my eyes to the causes of things.
Now he will first tell thee, I thought, whether the earth is flat
or round; and after he has done this, he will also show thee the
cause and the necessity of it; and which ever is the better, he
will prove that this quality is the better one for the earth. If
he tell thee that the earth is in the centre, he will at the same
time show thee that it is better for it to be in the centre. I
was willing, if he would show me this, not to suppose any other
kind of causes, and hoped soon to receive information about the
sun, the moon, and other stars, pointing out the mutual relation
of their rapidity, their rotation, and other changes, and how it
was better that each should act as it acts, and suffer as it suffers [or be acted on as it is acted on.] For, as he said they
were arranged by reason, I did not think that he would assign
any other cause to things than that their actual qualities were
the best. As he assigned to all things their causes, and ascertained them in all things in the same manner, I thought he
would represent that which is the best for each, as the good
common to all. I would not have given up my hopes for any
thing; with great avidity I took up his books, and read them
as soon as I found it possible, in order that I might quickly
learn the good and the bad. But, my friend, [he is addressing
1851.]
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