The importance and value of science and logic was recognized long, long ago…..
SOCRATES: I will explain: The body which is large when seen near, appears small when seen at a distance?
GLAUCON: True.
SOCRATES: And the same object appears straight when viewed out of the water, and crooked when in the water; and the concave becomes convex, owing to the illusion about colours to which the sight is likeable. Thus every sort of confusion is revealed within us; and this is that weakness of the human mind on which the art of conjuring and of deceiving by light and shadow and other ingenious devices imposes, having an effect upon us like magic.
GLAUCON: True.
SOCRATES: And the arts of measuring and numbering and weighing come to the rescue of the human understanding – there is beauty of them – and the apparent greater of less, or more or heavier, no longer have the mastery over us, but give way before calculation and measure and weight?
GLAUCON: Most true.
SOCRATES: And this, surely, must be the work of the calculating and rational principle in the soul?
GLAUCON: To be sure.
SOCRATES: And when this principle measures and certifies that some things are equal, or that some are greater or less than others, there occurs an apparent contradiction?
GLAUCON: True.
SOCRATES: But were we not saying that such a contradiction is impossible – the same faculty cannot have contrary opinion at the same time about the same thing?
GLAUCON: Very true.
SOCRATES: Then that part of the soul which has an opinion contrary to measure is not the same with that which has an opinion in accordance with measure?
GLAUCON: True.
SOCRATES: And the better part of the soul is likely to be that which trusts the measure and calculation?
GLAUCON: Certainly.
SOCRATES: And that which is opposed to them is one of the inferior principles of the soul?
GLAUCON: No doubt.
From Plato’s ‘The Republic’ – written ~375 BC
