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out that if it is true that the alternative theories make no 

 practical difference the reason is that one of them, viz. the 

 Determinist, cannot be acted on, and that therefore the 

 pragmatic test cannot be applied to it. If and so long 

 as the Determinist acts as if he were free and able to 

 choose between alternative possibilities, the theory his 

 acts imply cannot be discriminated by its results from 

 that implied in the Libertarian s acts. But so soon as 

 the Determinist feels that he has no choice, and acts on 

 his belief, the Libertarian holds it will make a distinct 

 difference in his action. He will subject himself to all 

 the paralysing influences of Fatalism. He will abandon 

 the attempt to control his impulses. He will relax his 

 efforts to overcome the natural tendencies of his char 

 acter, and to resist the pressure of his environment. And 

 if one considers what the natural tendencies of the average 

 man at present are, it does not seem probable that the 

 effect of such self-indulgence will in the main be good 

 and elevating or even conducive to the survival of 

 Determinists. Thus the preaching of Determinism may 

 do much harm, by relaxing the fibres of men s moral 

 nature and by tempting them to let themselves drift upon 

 a current of lazy habit, which they take to be the irresist 

 ible stream of Fate. No doubt in practice a consistent 

 Determinist will hardly be found. But this is not to 

 show that Determinism is harmless, nor is it an argument 

 in its favour : and even temporary fits of slackness may 

 be morally disastrous. 



Of course no harm will come of a merely theoretic 

 Determinism. To be refuted by its results a theory 

 must be acted on. Until it is acted on, its truth remains 

 in suspense, as a claim which has not been tested, or as a 

 plaything of idle speculation. And to show that it cannot 

 be acted on is to show, not that Determinism is harmless, 

 but that it is meaningless. 



It would be too much, however, to expect Determinists 

 to assent to this conclusion. For it follows logically from 

 their assumption that no moral revolution will result from 

 the adoption of Determinism, because no man is free to 



