Page 66 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

There is still a third source from which the suspicion arose that Socrates was engaged also in
Astrology and Geology. This was the caricature of Socrates, published by Aristophanes in his
comedy: the Clouds, as follows:

"Socrates is a miserable recluse, who speaks a great deal of absurd and amusing nonsense about
Physics, and declares that Zeus is dethroned, that Rotation reigns in his stead, and that the new
divinities are Air, which holds the earth suspended, Ether, the Clouds and Tongue. "He professes
to possess the power of Belial, which enables him to make the worse appear the better reason,
and his teachings cause children to beat their parents." (Aristophanes Clouds, 828 and 380; Life
and Trial of Socrates; F. J. Church: Introduction p. 18).

(iii) Summary of Conclusions

1. Life and Personality of Socrates

There are two circumstances in the life of Socrates which demand our attention: (a) he is said to
have been completely unknown up to the age of 40 and (b) to have lived a life of poverty. These
circumstances point to secrecy in training, and poverty as conditions of his life; and as such, they
coincide with the requirements of the Mystery System of Egypt, and her secret schools, whether
in the land of Egypt or abroad, which exacted the vows of secrecy and poverty from all
Neophytes and Initiates. All aspirants of the Mysteries had to receive secret training and
preparation, and Socrates was no exception. He alone of the three Athenian philosophers
deserves the appellation of a true Master Mason. Plato was a great coward and Aristotle was
greater still. At the execution of Socrates, Plato fled to Megara to the lodge of Euclid, and
Aristotle when indicted fled in exile to Calchis. (Clement of Alexandria: Stromata Bk. 5. C. 7
and 9; Plutarch on "Isis and Osiris" Sec. 9–11; Plato's Apology C. 8; 17; Phaedo C. 10; 13; 32;
63).

2. The Doctrines:

(i) The Doctrine of the Nous or an Intelligent Cause

With reference to this doctrine, we find that it is also credited to Anaxagoras, who is said to have
lived between 500 and 430 B.C. and who therefore antedated Socrates (469–399 B.C.) in
expounding it (Wm. Turner's Hist. of Phil. p. 63; p. 82). Secondly, further examination shows
that the doctrine of the Nous is also a direct inference from the doctrine of Cognition, as credited
to Democritus (460–360 B.C.), who is credited with stating that fire atoms are distributed
through the universe, and that mind is composed of fire atoms. Therefore it can be inferred (a)
that mind fills or is distributed through the universe and (b) since only like can produce like, then
the mind of the Universe must have been produced by a mind which is its source. (Wm. Turner's
Hist. of Phil. p. 68; Zeller's Hist. of Phil. p. 80).

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook