88 BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN PROBLEMS 



way as to secure a definite yet plastic product. 

 Here again there can be no question of responsibility 

 until there have been awakened those symbols of a 

 certain kind of cerebral action which we call will. 

 Let us suppose that the will is weak, that is to say, 

 offers little resistance to sensual enticements, even 

 when these are vaguely or clearly recognized to lead 

 to undesirable results. This weakness of inhibition 

 has its basis in the organization of the brain, but 

 cannot be wholly referred to it because it is a prod- 

 uct in which the sum of all experiences (or training) 

 is also a factor. Given a cerebral organization of 

 doubtful stability (or in the somewhat inadequate 

 language of physiology, an organization character- 

 ized by lower cerebral and spinal reflexes dispro- 

 portionately active in comparison with the inhibitory 

 mechanism of the cortical portion of the brain), the 

 outcome in the form of conduct must depend mainly 

 on the character of the external influences that have 

 come into operation. If these are of an enlighten- 

 ing kind, they will have opposed an obstacle to 

 thoughtless acts based on elaborate reflexes, or will 

 have moderated the disposition to more deliberate 

 acts which accord badly with the best dictates of 

 experience. If, on the contrary, the external influ- 

 ences have not awakened the intelligence and good 

 feeling necessary to hold in check those complex 

 reflexes which dispose to hurtful action, there will 

 result what we call mistaken or bad conduct. If an 

 inviting alcoholic drink is set before me when I am 



