Excerpt from In the Beginning: Some Greek Views on the Origins of Life and the Early State of Man

This book represents a series of Messenger Lectures at Cornell University, the purpose of which is stated in a note printed at the end. The foundation is not primarily a classical one. Indeed this is the first time in thirty-five years that the lectures have been allotted to the Classical Department, and it was impressed on the lecturer that they should be suitable for a general audience. At the same time the addition of notes will, it is hoped, give the work a certain interest for the classical student and scholar. They contain not only references to passages supporting the text, but also supplementary references and quotations, expansion of points which could only be summarily mentioned in the lectures, and a certain amount of additional information. Inevitably, however, the occasion of the work has imposed severe limitations.

Since preparing and delivering the lectures, I have seen a proof copy of Professor E. A. Havelock's book The Liberal Temper in Greek Politics, parts of which treat of much the same evidence as is here discussed, but from an entirely different point of view. As his title indicates, he is more interested in evaluating the political implications of certain early Greek scientific theories which I have preferred to treat in some detail for their own sakes. In particular, we differ toto caelo in our interpretations of the Protagoras myth. I see no reason to alter what I have mitten, but any reader of this book should be referred to his also (and perhaps vice versa).

The book is offered to my friends at Cornell in return for great kindness and a store of pleasant memories. Many have contributed to these, but I should like to say a special word of thanks to Fritz and Liselotte Solmsen and to our hosts at Telluride House.

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