Commentary Over centuries, scholars of antiquity and modern civilization have been intrigued by the search for natural truth and well-ordered rules for life. Plato, they say, saw knowledge as virtue. Bacon, a father of the scientific revolution, saw it as power. Ancient Greek philosophers achieved freedom by dedicating themselves to quiet contemplation. If they had been pushed into laboratories and obliged to publish their thoughts and findings they might have considered themselves enslaved. Today, most scientists are Baconian. The search for truth has become more empirical. Scientists follow defined lines of research, publish their findings, and share conclusions with colleagues—including those from outside their own country. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to doubt that scientists can be trusted with the fate of the free world. Knowledge and the State Knowledge may be power, but so is the state. Scientists who live in communist or other managerial regimes have less freedom …