ESSAYS PHILOSOPHICAL, MORAL, Sac. 11

ther idea, than that the power by which our vo-
litions are determined is the caufe of volition;
for this is a mere identical propofition, which
can never be ferioufly propofed as the fubject of
philofophical difcullion. By the felf-dctertnining
power therefore mull be meant, if indeed it has
any meaning, either the a€tual exertion of voli-
tion, or the mental energy which precedes voli-
tion, and which is the efficient caufe ofit. Ifit
means the actual exertion of volition, then the
alliertors of this power evidently confound the
caule with the efiiefzit, making the aEt of volition
prior to itfelf, diPtinEt from itfell‘, and the caule
of itfelf. But if it means the mental energy, pre-
ceding and producing volition, it is then plainly
equivalent to the term nzo/ive, and the queftion
is reduced to a mere verbal controverfy. For
this mental energy, denoting only a particular
difpofition and {late of mind, mull itfelf have re-
fulted from a previous difpolition of mind, as
likewife that previous difpofition from one yet
more remote. A regular and uninterrupted con-
catenation of volitions, thus extending itlelf
backwards to the original fource of agency,
each volition or mental Ptate, like wave impel-
ling wave, arifing from preceding, and giving
rile to fucceeding Rates, or definite fituations of
mind analogous to itlelf, and correfponding to

tholie immutable laws by which the mental, no
lefs