REAL FREEDOM 



vital functions, by reason of conscious par- 

 ticipation in the performance of those 

 functions. Most of us do not analyze this 

 feeling of freedom but we enjoy its exer- 

 cise. And the belief in freedom, as we 

 have seen, is at times a real causative fac- 

 tor in determining a course of action. If 

 one attempts to find a rational justifica- 

 tion for this belief, his judgment may be 

 true or faulty. The causal efficiency of 

 the belief remains in either case as long as 

 the feehng of freedom endures. 



If now one should become convinced 

 that his former belief in freedom is not 

 well founded, that for instance the mysti- 

 cal freedom that he supposed he possessed 

 is fictitious, then he may decide that there 

 is no such thing as freedom, and thereafter 

 his conduct may be radically different from 

 what it was before. Self-culture, personal 

 and social Ideals have lost their controlling 

 power as determining motives of conduct. 

 But the more elementary instincts and Im- 

 pulses of self-preservation and selfish 

 gratification persist, released from the in- 

 hibitions of higher control. The person- 

 ality deteriorates. We have too often 

 seen this tragedy enacted. 



But there is a true human freedom that 

 embraces the finest and the best that we 



[83] 



