________________
of life and
METAPHYSICS TO ETHICS. unity and coherence in human practice. But here too, as everywhere else, the head The theory guides the hand, the intellect controls the the art will ; for theory always determines the practice. Of course, it is needless to mention here that a clear and adequate theory comes into being, or become crystallised into a definite shape, after long crude practice, but still, it may be asserted, as a fact, incapable of being denied, that every life implies a certain plan, a certain conception, however vague and ill-defi. ned, of what life means. And such a plan or conception, we say, is already an implicit or latent in every theory of life. The clearer and more definite the conception of the meaning of life becomes, the more of order and harmony is also introduced into human practice. This is why intellectual superficiality is so often a main source of moral evil ; and folly and vice are largely synonymous. This is why the first step towards moral reformation is to arouse reflection in a man or people ; for the claims of morality cannot be properly satisfied and its demands fulfilled, until and unless the rigours of these claims are properly brought clearly into view.
463