 One byproduct of this trial was Dewey’s published analysis of the set of Trotsky’s beliefs about Marxism, freedom, scientific method and democracy. Dewey had concluded that Trotsky did not understand the nature of democracy and its required toleration for the rights of the minority in the process of government. Dewey argued that Trotsky’s approach revealed a mind that was “locked in absolutes” and failed to recognize the variable and contingent nature of historical processes. Trotsky’s belief that Marxism had provided a theory of scientific socialism which was a blueprint for the development of the historical future was not consistent with the pragmatic understanding of the scientific method. Although Hook had taken the initiative in generating Dewey’s involvement in the vindication of Trotsky, he shared Dewey’s negative conclusions about the compatibility of Trotsky’s beliefs with pragmatism, freedom and democracy.