FATALISM OR FREEDOM 



have in our natures. This natural free- 

 dom has no mystical powers, but its recog- 

 nition is a tremendously effective human 

 motive. We have only to rationalize our 

 naive feeling of freedom to see its value 

 and to cherish it as one of the priceless 

 birthrights of our common humanity. 



The freedom of which we speak grows 

 up within the life of the individual, is 

 strengthened by exercise, atrophied by dis- 

 use, destroyed by disease, and propagated 

 by precept and example. Its facies changes 

 from day to day. In the development of 

 vigorous, sturdy, aggressive character it 

 thrives and plays a mighty role in the 

 march of individual and social evolution. 

 As each day's choices are made, its battles 

 fought and won, the will to strive and to 

 achieve takes on new and lustier strength. 

 In this progressive movement the particu- 

 lar choice which is the battleground of 

 freedom to-day is left in the rear to-mor- 

 row. Habit enters, and freedom of con- 

 scious choice is replaced by more elemen- 

 tary forms of behavior. This process is 

 irreversible, and what I am free to choose 

 to-day I may do as an unconscious autom- 

 atism to-morrow. 



The mechanism of this conscious free- 

 dom is very different indeed from those of 



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