EVOLUTION THE MASTER-KEY 



Admitting this, it is possible to explain what 

 appears to be a difficulty of determinism. In 

 argument the other day a friend insisted upon 

 the fact that, though men of science deny the 

 freedom of the will, yet they admit the existence 

 of a something which they see to vary in different 

 individuals. A lunatic has volition; in a lucid 

 interval he has volition, but when he is insane we 

 recognize that his actions are "impulsive," while 

 during sanity they are rational. Insane, he is 

 enslaved ; sane, is he not free ? If, then, there is a 

 power of choice which varies in different persons 

 or in the same person at different times, how can 

 we defend determinism ? 



The difficulty vanishes when we appreciate the 

 conception of reason as the pilot. Sane and in- 

 sane alike are subject to the gusts of passion 

 gusts which no pilot reason can abate ; they do not 

 own his jurisdiction. The reason does not furnish 

 motives. But the rational man has a remote 

 objective for which he steers; and, though his 

 reason cannot drive him thither, it can direct the 

 forces that do drive him. The image is not per- 

 fect, but it may serve to illustrate the point that 

 the function of reason is directive and not motor. 

 The dictates of reason are not dictates in the sense 

 that a gale is dictator; they are dictates as to the 

 way in which to ride the gale. In any case I want 

 happiness whether by self-seeking or serving 

 others matters not and my reason, which does 

 not furnish my desire for happiness, fulfils the 



