300. At this point the objection might be raised that character, talents and aptitudes are inborn and thus are present in the consciousness whether we wish it or not, and, of course, to a certain extent this is true. But from the analysis set forth in my book "Logic", Chapter 94, which deals with "A knowledge", "B knowledge" and "C knowledge", one will see that all characteristics, talents and aptitudes have originated as acts of will and have later developed to that independent form of functioning we call "habits of consciousness" and already at this stage can be defined as "talents" and "aptitudes".
      When a person has aptitudes or talents which are of an adverse nature to himself or his surroundings, this could only have come about in the beginning as knowledge and subsequently developed into controlled acts of will which, after sufficient repetition, became habits of consciousness. Of course people can develop or acquire abilities to do good in the same way by making the necessary conditions into habits of consciousness and thereby remain free of adverse talents and aptitudes.
      Therefore, through using the will one can begin this very day to employ better material for thoughts and for developing the consciousness. It is quite natural that this can be difficult, for it means a struggle against previously practised habits which have to be made over, so to speak, into habits of consciousness. And it is just this struggle against harmful habits which is stimulated – although in an unscientific form – by the humane religions.
      As harmful habits are in reality the same as an individual's use of wrong mental energies, whereby the way he manifests himself becomes the product of this harmful cosmic-chemical combination in his consciousness and therefore becomes damaging or destructive for its instigator, then "cosmic chemistry" remains an indispensable factor for the individual in his creation of perfect behaviour.