306 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. X. 



and that this is by no means less free than the other, but 

 more. 



In the next place, there are various states of mind, and 

 schools of philosophy corresponding to various stages in the 

 evolution of the idea of liberty. 



In one phase, human actions are the resultant (by par" 1 ' 

 of forces) of the various attractions of surrounding things, 

 modified in some degree by internal states, regarding which 

 all that is to be said is that they are subjectively capricious, 

 objectively the " EESULT OF LAW," that is, the wilfulness of 

 our wills feels to us like liberty, being in reality necessity. 



In another phase, the wilfulness is seen to be anything 

 but free will, since it is merely a submission to the strongest 

 attraction, after the fashion of material things. So some say 

 that a man's will is the root of all evil in him, and that he 

 should mortify it out till nothing of himself remains, and the 

 man and Ins selfishness disappear together. So said Gotama 

 Buddha (see Max Muller), and many Christians have said 

 and thought nearly the same thing. 



Nevertheless there is another phase still, in which there 

 appears a possibility of the exact contrary to the first state, 

 namely, an abandonment of wilfulness without extinction of 

 will, but rather by means of a great development of will, 

 whereby, instead of being consciously free and really in sub- 

 jection to unknown laws, it becomes consciously acting by 

 law, and really free from the interference of unrecognised 

 laws. 



There is a screed of metaphysics. I don't suppose that 

 is what you wanted. I have no nostrum that is exactly 

 what you want. Every man must brew his own, or at least 

 fill his own glass for himself, but I greatly desire to hear 

 some more from you, just to get into rapport. 



As to the Roman Catholic question, it is another piece 

 of the doctrine of Liberty. People get tired of being able to 

 do as they like, and having to choose their own steps, and so 

 they put themselves under holy men, who, no doubt, are 

 really wiser than themselves. But it is not only wrong, but 

 impossible, to transfer either will or responsibility to another; 



