FREE WILL AND AUTOMATISM 289 



The controversy between the Determinists and 

 VoHtionists is interminable. Why is it confined to man 

 alone ? No allusion is ever made to free will in animals, 

 yet if man has it not, why is he not classed entirely with 

 them ; as he would be a pure automaton. But let that 

 pass. 



The matter is put thus : — ^ 



" There is no effect without an antecedent cause." — 

 Granted. 



" What then of the human will ; does it act without a 

 cause ? " — Certainly not. 



" Does it cause itself? " — Certainly not. 



" Is the will merely the result of forces — namely de- 

 sires [or motives] ? " — Yes, the strongest motive prevails. 



" Consequently the action follows the strongest in- 

 clination, i.e., the man yields to the most powerful 

 influence?" — Yes, certainly. 



And so the Determinist claims the victory! 



But he has overlooked the most important element 

 of Consciousness in the process of a deliberate selection of 

 motives suggested by the circumstances. 



Precisely the same act may be done when the man 

 is automatically impelled by the strongest motive, just as 

 when the elements of mental attention, consciousness and 

 deliberation are present. 



Take the case described by Mr. Forester. He says : 

 " A man with a liking for spirits deliberates [but to 

 ' deliberate ' at once destroys determinism] as to whether 

 he shall drink a glass of brandy. He has been told by 

 his doctor not to drink brandy. He thinks it will pro- 

 bably do him harm [here we have abstract reflection^ and 

 may be a downward step in a course which will ultimately 



1 See The Faith of an Agnostic, by G. Forester, chap, xii., " Some Old 

 Riddles ", 



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