The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-04
FARm,
Orlando, Florida.

ment2
Arminius: No. lacked Just what
nave learned today. ] might have
Directly guessed at some things tina
! now know, but as to absolute knoWl-
dye, ] had none Of that which | have
acquired since rising this morning.
Calvin: Whatever o IA though.
ana done todaN is q past and fiNcd
tact. indelibly mapped in the nina OF
Jlnniscience and stamped upon youl
mind SO tar as our retains
Il"
Arminius: l admit this also.
Calvin: Now to make a Hypothetical!
ase. suppose it possible to place YOU
ack to the time Of rising this morn
ing. With all Your surroundings the
same. With the whole universe and all
It contains precisely as it was at the
lme YOU get up; with the anne mental
and physical state as regards YOU
personality; With the same will to &C
>uate your motives to carry out YOU
actions; with the same knowledge and
Nerie>ce Wv In then-n0 onN"0-
and no less-and with every occurrence
disconnected ION yourselI end ,eu
would you do the same things YOU
have done today, or would ycu DO
SCWethin" else"
A~rIninius: ! should say, according
to the teachings of philosophy, that
Conditions beng the same, mdl VII!
act precisely as before. e., cOnd;-
ions precisely the same, results vii!
ne the same. The mind cannot real
;ze the fact that existence OF change
IAN take place without a cause. The
necessity Of causes to all the changes
of being. is. so far as j know. univer-
ally adnittcu.
Calvin: Now, let me ask You. + you
hink it would be in the range of~pos-
Utility for YOU to him and act diff
1~eTentlN2
Arminius: II we are to regard man
as an original source Of action, some
what as We conceive of God, then. all
metaphysical necessity becomes a
shadow OF the minds own throwing,
and in dealing with it. We are chas-
ing our own shadow and mistake ii
tor q substance.
Calvin: Very true. but when YOU
assume that man is an rig nal source
of action, YOU break out a link in the
chain of cause and effect. and put
him very much on an equality With
God. If thought can start IN the
brain independent of cause. 1t Would
lead to the absurd proposition that
man is q self-cxistent being, indf pend
ent of cause and responsible TO no
power.
A%rninius: Well, Suppose that pure
oric would compel me- TO act us be-
fore. what them
Calvin: ] would put this Quodibet:
Are YOU not n the same relative pO-
sjtiOn upon riSinS each morning 70
the DAY following that o were tins
morning as regards the day, ]. e.. are
lo,, nor as ignorant of what will take
place tomorrow. and every Succeed-
ing day of your LIE Upon rising. as
Won we're his morning of what was
to take place today; and your Will to
control year motives. and your 40
fiy,s TO direct your actionS: are they
no, in the same category as to CIR
constance. environment, hopes. tears,
desires and al the complicated n
varied energies of life. as they were
his morning, in regard to n was
to take place today?
Arminius: j grant your proposition.
now what?
Calyin: If you VIII be in the same
relative position in reg I'd to the day
before rising tomorrow morning, t1at
YOU were this morning IN regard 70
he present day, and h opportunity
of CONS over this day, unde the same
circumstance, would necessitate your
following the same track YOU have
a1readv travelled. how is it possible
for Won to avoid the rack which is
;ndeIibly mapped in the mind OF Goa
Tor your step tomorrow n every sue
q day of your life? Would you
nor have to SPOIL out the map which is
fixed in the mind of Omniscience. be-
fore YOU could select another route?
Arminius: | consider that the app4l-
cation Of dynamic terms and relations
to the volitional life, is purely fictitious
and misleading. The illusion arises
very naturally, but is none the less
illusory, and the objections brought