178 CO,SMIC FIIILOSOFHY, [pt. ii. 



for practical purposes be regarded indifferently as the final 

 stage of emotion or as the initial sta^^fe of action. 



Passing from the case in which a single desire is operative 

 let us briefly consider the special case of two conflicting 

 desires, where the gratification of the one is incom- 

 patible with that of the other. In this case, two groups of 

 motor-nerves are nascently-excited. Here there are two 

 opposite tensions, and the resulting action will depend on 

 their comparative strength. If they exactly neutralize each 

 other, as in the hypothetical case of tiie ass between the two 

 bumJles of hay, no volition will ensu3. But in a complex 

 aggregate, like the human or animal organism, such a state 

 of equilibrium cannot be of long continuance. Sooner or 

 later, — either from the greater vividness with which one of 

 the desired objects is mentally realized, or from any one of a 

 thousand other disturbing circumstances down to those of a 

 purely physical nature, — one desire will become stronger 

 than the other. And instantly thereupon, the surplus nervous 

 tension remaining after the weaker desire is neutralized, will 

 pass into nervous vis vtva; or, in other words, volition will 

 take place. 



The opposing tension need not, however, have desire for its 

 concomitant. It may be furnished by the mere inertia of the 

 nervo-muscular system; as when a man, wishing to do some- 

 thing which requires exertion, is too weary to do it. Weariness 

 implies a diminution in the total amount of contractile force ; 

 a state in which a tension greater than ordinary is obviously 

 required for the initiation of muscular motion. Conversely, 

 the originating tension need not always be supplied by desire, 

 but may be consequent upon vivacity, which is the presence 

 of a superfluous amount of vital energy ; as exemplified alike 

 in the morning frolics of an infant, in the singing of birds, 

 and in the gambols of a dog when released from his kennel. 



Casos as simple as those here treated occur no doubt with 

 lomparative infrequency. Usually a great number of motives, 



