Knowledge that Transforms

G REAT WORKS often do not immediately get the attention they deserve. David Hume's Treatise of Human Nature fell, in his own words, dead born from the press.' John Stuart Mill's Subjection of Women was received coolly (it was the only book of Mill on which his publisher lost money).2 Bertrand Russell has recorded his disappointment at the reception that Principia Mathematica got: I used to know of only six people who had read the later parts of the book. Three of these were Poles, subsequently (I believe) liquidated by Hitler.3 remaining three readers apparently got back to their old lazy ways soon enough: The other three were Texans, subsequently successfully assimilated-a result as bad as being liquidated so far as the effect on the deserted Principia Mathematica