CHOICE AND CHANCE. 47 
The equations involved in this discussion must be sufficiently comprehensive 
to include the surroundings of each man, as well as the man himself. The decis 
ion a man will reach, by reason of all influences brought to bear on him, 
depends upon the man, and upon the zntensity of the influence, just as the inter- 
action between two planets depends upon doth of the acting bodies. That is to 
say, in the equations there will appear certain constants the values of which will 
differ with different men, just as in building a bridge, the values of certain con- 
stants in the formule depend upon the kind of material used. In the former 
case the value of these constants will be determined by the previous experiences 
of the man upon his inherited ability, tendencies, etc. We recognize all this in 
the popular saying, that different men under the same influences act differently, 
just as different beams of wood under a given tension, would act differently. Some 
would safely carry a load under which others would break down at once. The 
values of these constants may change for the same man, as when experience in 
any emergency causes him to resolve to do aifferently next time. 
Our equations must then enable an infinite mind to trace out, in such a man- 
ner that they could be predicted, all such events in the life history of a man as 
these: On a certain day and hour he will decide to take a pleasure walk, influ- 
enced by motives which we need not consider. Passing near the river bank, he 
sees a fellow-man struggling in the water. At once various mental forces are 
brought into action. He has, during his whole life, found pleasure in deeds 
of benevolence. For this trait in his character there is an adequate cause, but 
we need not consider it. His first impulse is to rush in and save the drowning 
man. The fact that he is an expert swimmer tends to influence him in the same 
direction. But he also knows that his lungs are in feeble condition, and, more- 
over, he is overheated by vigorous walking, he is far from help, and the water 
and. air are cold. The drowning man is strong, and thoroughly frightened. The 
events press for an immediate decision, and this may also have its influence in 
determining what the final decision will be. Some of us think-that a higher power 
may also influence him in some way. All these influences, brought to bear on 
this man’s mind, resemble a system of parallel and opposing forces acting upon a 
particle of matter, only, the relative sagnitude of these forces will be different, for 
different men. As in the one case there will be a certain resultant, in the direction 
of which the mass will move, so in the other case, there will be a resultant—a decis- 
ion, which will bring about a corresponding line of action. For a time, his judg- 
ment may hold him in equilibrium, as previous experience causes him to act with 
prudence. The discovery that the drowning man is his son, would probably 
determine his decision at once, and the discovery of a rope upon the bank, would 
attach upon his mind another intensely acting force. _ During his moments of sus- 
‘pense, the intensity of these forces would be constantly varying, as one after 
another consideration presents itself for the moment prominently in his mind. 
‘The infinite mind, fully learned in mathematics and mental philosophy, could 
predict at what moment the man would decide to rush in, and by continuing the 
