CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE WILL 97 



most efficiently the reactions that are inherently 

 possible outside help is needed, the help derivable 

 from contacts with nature, from books, and espe- 

 cially from the experience, example, and advice of 

 other human beings. Such help makes possible a 

 nearer approach to individualistic development. 

 But just in so far as this development of an individ- 

 ual has been facilitated by the help of other peo- 

 ple, there is created an obligation, in the person so 

 aided, to give help to those who require it under 

 conditions that do not endanger personal efficiency 

 and the possibility of further individual progress. 

 This interchange of help is, and must always remain, 

 an essential feature of civilization, but it can reach 

 a high degree of efficiency only where the utmost 

 encouragement is given to the most enlightened 

 interests of the individual. The doctrine of scien- 

 tific fatalism thus takes account of the great possi- 

 bilities of the individual and of the race. It teaches 

 that each human being should have the best obtain- 

 able chance for self-development, and becomes the 

 enemy of social conditions which stand in the way 

 of such opportunity. It teaches that an individual 

 should be judged in relation to the chance he has had 

 for self-improvement, and not by any arbitrary 

 standard. But it does not teach that any two 

 human beings are equal in potential for achieve- 

 ment. It expects many failures, but it judges them 

 leniently. It counts on the emergence from time 

 to time of human beings able to point out new 



