Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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French Page · Branch 1316 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1316
French
p. 263112 avril.
Les erreurs d’Aristote en anatomie méritent peu le nom d’erreurs. On peut les définir en les appelant de pures transpositions de faits. Il n’a pas une idée fausse, mais il s’est mépris en attribuant quelquefois à une partie des prérogatives qu’on a reconnu appartenir à une autre, comme l’origine des nerfs, etc. Il a bien connu la nature, il ne lui a attribué ni une autre économie ni d’autres ressorts que les siens. Mais il s’est légèrement trompé sur quelques-unes de leurs distributions. Quiquonque scait bien ce qu’il a dit n’a besoin que d’être averti de prendre garde à ces déplacemens pour tout scavoir mieux que les autres. On devroit faire dans ses excellens livres des errata de doctrine comme on en fait d’impression. Les corrections de ce genre qu’on pourroit faire à Aristote n’occuperoient peut-être par la moitié d’un feuillet.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2632April 12.
Aristotle’s errors in anatomy scarcely deserve the name of errors. They may be defined as mere transpositions of facts. He has no false idea, but he was mistaken in sometimes attributing to one part prerogatives that have been recognized as belonging to another, such as the origin of the nerves, etc. He knew nature well; he attributed to it no economy or springs other than its own. But he was slightly mistaken about some of their distributions. Whoever knows well what he said needs only to be warned to watch for these displacements to know everything better than others. In his excellent books one ought to make errata of doctrine as one makes errata of printing. The corrections of this kind that one might make to Aristotle would perhaps not occupy half a leaf.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1316
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.
Historical Text and Translation
The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.
Rights
The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.