184 Delbceuf on the "modus CHAP. 



generally, this will not disprove the possibility of 

 indetermination and freedom, also limited, in sensitive 

 and conscious beings like the higher animals; and 

 still more in a self-conscious being like Man. Sensa- 

 tion, consciousness, and self-consciousness, are such 

 wonderful phenomena, and so totally unlike anything 

 which can be imagined as properties of mere matter, 

 that it would seem rather probable than otherwise if 

 they should be accompanied by other wonderful 

 properties, especially by this of free self-determina- 

 tion. 



I go on to state Delboeufs theory of the modus 

 operandi of this free self - determination. He says : 

 " Freedom disposes of time. This, as we shall see, is 

 sufficient. We consequently define a free being as 

 one which possesses the power of suspending its 

 activity until the moment chosen by itself. A free 

 being is thus a reservoir of force (or, more correctly, 

 energy) in a state of tension, which it can transform 

 at pleasure into actually working energy (farces mves). 

 . . . This transformation of latent energy, or energy 

 in the form of tension, is effected without any increase 

 or decrease in the total energy of the system" of 

 which the free being forms a part. 



This appears by far the most luminous suggestion 

 yet made on the subject, and I only wonder that, 

 with his knowledge of natural science, Delbceuf has 

 left it as a bare suggestion, and not worked it out 

 into further detail. With the help of modern 

 physiology, however, this is not difficult. 



