and active efforts, for the attainment of positive truth.—Inductive process of scrutiny, and Baconian spirit, of Sokratês.—Sokratic method tends to create minds capable of forming conclusions for themselves—not to plant conclusions ready-made.—Grecian dialectics—their many-sided handling of subjects—force of the negative arm.—The subjects to which they were applied—man and society—essentially required such handling—reason why.—Real distinction and variance between Sokratês and the sophists.—Prodigious efficacy of Sokratês in forming new philosophical minds.—General theory of Sokratês on ethics—he resolved virtue into knowledge, or wisdom.—This doctrine defective as stating a part for the whole.—He was led to this general doctrine by the analogy of special professions.—Constant reference of Sokratês to duties of practice and detail.—The derivative reasonings of Sokratês were of larger range than his general doctrine.—Political opinions of Sokratês.—Long period during which Sokratês exercised his vocation as a public converser.—Accusation against him by Melêtus, Anytus, and Lykon.—The real ground for surprise is, that that accusation had not been preferred before.—Inevitable unpopularity incurred by Sokratês in his mission.—It was only from the general toleration of the Athenian democracy and population, that he was allowed to go on so long.—Particular circumstances which brought on the trial of Sokratês.—Private offence of Anytus.—Unpopularity arising to Sokratês from his connection with Kritias and Alkibiadês.—Enmity of the poets and rhetors to Sokratês.—Indictment—grounds of the accusers—effects of the “Clouds” of Aristophanês, in creating prejudice against Sokratês.—Accusation of corruption in teaching was partly founded on political grounds.—Perversion of the poets alleged against him.—Remarks of Xenophon upon these accusations.—The charges touch upon the defective point of the Sokratic ethical theory.—His political strictures.—The verdict against Sokratês was brought upon him partly by his own concurrence.—Small majority by which he was condemned.—Sokratês defended himself like one who did not care to be acquitted.—The “Platonic Apology.”—Sentiment of Sokratês about death.—Effect of his defence upon the dikasts.—Assertion of Xenophon that Sokratês might have been acquitted if he had chosen it.—The sentence—how passed in Athenian procedure.—Sokratês is called upon to propose some counter-penalty against himself—his behavior.—Aggravation of feeling in the dikasts against him in consequence of his behavior.—Sentence of death—resolute adherence of Sokratês to his own convictions.—Satisfaction of Sokratês with the sentence, on deliberate conviction.—Sokratês in prison for thirty days—he refuses to accept the means of escape—his serene death.—Originality of Sokratês.—Views taken of Sokratês as a moral preacher and as a skeptic—the