It is not necessarily true, as J.S. Mill and all other agnostics think,
that even if internal intuition be of divine origin, the illumination
thus furnished can only be of evidential value to the individual subject
thereof. On the contrary, it may be studied objectively, even if not
experienced subjectively; and ought to be so studied by a pure agnostic
desirous of light from any quarter. Even if he does not know it as a
noumenon he can investigate it as a phenomenon. And, supposing it to be
of divine origin, as its subjects believe and he has no reason to doubt,
he may gain much evidence against its being a mere psychological
illusion from identical reports of it in all ages. Thus, if any large
section of the race were to see flames issuing from magnets, there would
be no doubt as to their objective reality.


The testimony given by Socrates to the occurrence in himself of an
internal Voice, having all the definiteness of an auditory
hallucination, has given rise to much speculation by subsequent
philosophers.

Many explanations are suggested, but if we remember the critical nature
of Socrates' own mind, the literal nature of his mode of teaching, and
the high authority which attaches to Plato's opinion on the subject, the
probability seems to incline towards the 'Demon' having been, in
Socrates' own consciousness, an actual auditory sensation. Be this
however as it may, I suppose there is no question that we may adopt this
view of the matter at least to the extent of classifying Socrates with
Luther, Pascal, &c., not to mention all the line of Hebrew and other
prophets, who agree in speaking of a Divine Voice.