38 BULLETIN OP THE UNIVERSITY OP WISCONSIN. 



consider that there 'has been no attempt to examine the entire 

 nature of an individual. JSTo one could imagine that the only 

 problem involved in a person's success in life relates to the 

 generating and conserving of nervous force. This is surely im- 

 portant enough, but yet more important things follow. When 

 one is in possession of his forces then the question arises, what 

 shall he do with them ? In what direction shall he expend 

 them ? What is really worth while ? The answers to these que- 

 ries must be sought for in the principles of religion, education, 

 and allied departments of knowledge concerning human life. 



I am well aware that I have discussed in an inconclusive 

 manner some topics connected with my subject. Indeed, cer- 

 tain problems have been simply opened up for more detailed con- 

 sideration later rather than settled in any satisfactory way. This 

 is made necessary at the present time by the unbroken character 

 of the field. So far as I know there has as yet been little serious 

 effort to discuss deportment from an energeic point of view, 

 and in a comprehensive, systematic form. All that has been 

 done is of an isolated, fragmentary character, and most of the 

 available data concern more or less simple processes which are 

 likely to have their properties much modified when combined 

 into the complex thing we call conduct. These data are scat- 

 tered through a number of sciences ; and what I have attempted 

 to do is to gather up the most relevant of them and interpret 

 them in the light of one another, and by the aid of observa- 

 tion and experience, keeping constantly in mind local practices 

 and conditions. I regret that it has not been possible to in- 

 vestigate in a more thorough manner several of the matters 

 treated ; but if those who feel the lack of certainty will be 

 stimulated to undertake detailed and exact studies for them- 

 selves, some good will have been done. I am convinced, though, 

 (and this is a source of consolation), that for practical purposes 

 it is often quite as efficient to direct an individual's attention to 

 the consideration of a certain line of conduct as to presume 

 .to give him explicit directions respecting his actions. 



