SOCIOLOGY AND FREE-WILL 



dignity of responsibility, and makes man the 

 sport of a grotesque and purposeless chance. 



In truth, the immediate corollaries of the 

 free-will doctrine are so shocking, not only to 

 philosophy but to common-sense, that were not 

 accurate thinking a somewhat rare phenomenon 

 it would be inexplicable how any credit should 

 ever have been given to such a dogma. This 

 is but one of the many instances in which, by 

 the force of words alone, men have been held 

 subject to chronic delusion. The libertarian 

 doctrine has obtained currency because it has 

 talked loudly of human freedom, with which, 

 nevertheless, a brief analysis proves it to be 

 incompatible. Substitute for the unmeaning 

 phrase " freedom of the Will " the accurate 

 phrase " lawlessness of volition," and the theory 

 already looks less plausible. In place of the 

 vague and ambiguous word " necessity," write 

 the clear and definitely connotative word "causa- 

 tion," and the scientific theory at once loses its 

 imaginary terrors. The titles with which the 

 free-will doctrine decorates itself, and those with 

 which it brands its opponent, are alike " ques- 

 tion-begging epithets." They serve to prejudge 

 the point at issue. 



Not content with the overwhelming prestige 

 which its name thus gives it, the free-will doc- 

 trine seeks to follow up its advantage by iden- 

 tifying its antagonist with Asiatic fatalism ; a 

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