We have seen that the self-determining power of choice is the distinctive attribute of mind, and that all the other powers are dependent on this, and regulated by it. We have seen that the current of the thoughts, and the nature and power of the desires and emotions, are also controlled by the generic ruling purpose, or chief interest of the mind. This being so, then the only way in which mind can act to secure the object for which it is made is _to choose that object for chief end or ruling purpose, and actually carry out this choice in all subordinate volitions_. We will now present the evidence gained from experience, as well as what we should infer from the known laws of mind, to show what the result would be in _a system of minds_ where each mind should thus act. Let us suppose, then, a commonwealth in which every mind is regulated by a ruling purpose to _act right_, which actually controls every specific volition. Each mind then would obey all those laws which will secure to the whole community and to each individual the greatest possible amount of happiness with the least possible evil. To do this of necessity involves the idea that each mind must _know what are all the laws of the system_; for no one can choose to obey laws until laws are known. Let the result on a single mind be first contemplated. In the first place, all the trains of thought would be regulated by the _chief desire_, which would be to make the most possible happiness with the least possible evil. Of course, all those ideas that were most consonant with this ruling passion would become vivid and distinct; and as these ideas also would be connected with the _strongest emotions_, the two chief causes that regulate association would combine to secure constant thought and intellectual activity to promote the common welfare as the chief object, while self would have only its true and proper estimation and attention. There would be no need of effort to regulate thought and emotion, for they would all flow naturally to the grand and right object. Next suppose a commonwealth in which every mind had its intellect, desires, and emotions, and all its specific volitions thus regulated by the grand aim of making the most possible happiness, guarded, too, by unerring judgment, so as to make no miscalculation; what would be the state of things, so far as we can ascertain by past experience and by reasoning from the known nature of things?