Moral phenomena are subjects of experiment. 125 



powers, and occult causes, they have been proved to 

 be results of natural powers, acting in accordance 

 with known principles. Assertions which have been 

 made, that " the will is a supernatural power, inde- 

 pendent of natural law " &c., are not supported by 

 evidence at all equal in cogency to that in proof of 

 the statement, that our mental and moral powers as a 

 whole act in accordance with the great principles of 

 science. 



That moral phenomena, like those of the physical 

 sciences, are capable of being made the subject 

 of experiment, observation, comparison, analysis, 

 and inference, is very manifest. Every case of 

 bribery may be viewed as an experiment in mo- 

 rality. The very common case where an employer 

 tests the honesty of a servant by some contrivance, is 

 also a trial of a similar kind. The dependence of the 

 moral powers upon scientific conditions, is clearly 

 seen in the influences of intoxicating drinks. A mere 

 natural substance could not possibly overcome the 

 influence of a power which exists entirely independent 

 of it ; i.e., a " supernatural " one. Even the greatest 

 believer in the " supernatural " power of the human 

 w r ill, deplores the serious injury which the abuse of 

 alcoholic liquors produces upon mankind, rendering 

 the will powerless, and debasing the moral sentiments. 

 The effects of opium, haschisch, &c., are other ex- 

 amples. A vast number of experiments remain to be 

 made of the effects of drugs and organic compounds, 

 both solid, liquid and gaseous, upon moral actions ;. 



