COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



appropriate for the mediaeval astronomer to ap- 

 peal to consciousness as testifying to the revo- 

 lution of the sun about the earth. As Mr. Bain 

 observes, " it is a great stretch of asseveration 

 to call the construction of an enormous theory 

 an act of consciousness so simple that we cannot 

 make a slip in performing it." ^ Consciousness 

 tells us only that we will. By observation and 

 experience — not by the simple and direct in- 

 terrogation of consciousness — we know that, 

 circumstances permitting, our volitions may be 

 accomplished. With the exception, therefore, 

 of those theological fatalists who assert that hu- 

 man actions are determined by an external con- 

 straining power, it is the universal opinion that 

 men can voluntarily determine their own actions; 

 and this is just what the much-abused testimony 

 of consciousness amounts to. This is all that it 

 means to any one not mystified by metaphysics ; 

 the non-causation of volitions being a theorem 

 so far from obvious to a great many men, that 

 it requires considerable explanation to make 

 them understand it. By the testimony of con- 

 sciousness, as thus interpreted, the assertors of 

 the lawlessness of volition are not helped in the 

 least. The question at issue between them and 

 their opponents is, not whether the actions of 

 men are normally free, but whether their free- 

 dom is consistent with their being caused. The 

 1 The Emotions and the Wil/y ist edition, p. 563. 

 268 



