Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIYEAR 1814 · Entry 6942

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French Page · Branch 3161 of 4529

YEAR 1814 · Entry 6942

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 6321

9 mars.

Dans ses opérations, la logique part d’une définition et la métaphysique d’une idée. L’une a pour but la conviction et l’autre la clarté et l’assentiment. La première appartient au judiciaire, la deuxième au démonstratif. Celle-ci est essentiellement persuasive, expositive. L’âme y prend part. Mais dans les opérations de la logique et de l’arithmétique, une espèce de calcul est seul employé.

La différence d’un axiome et d’une idée, d’un principe et d’une notion.

Tout ce qui est incontestable n’est pas toujours pour cela clair, évident et senti.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1814

p. 6322

March 9.

In its operations, logic starts from a definition and metaphysics from an idea. The one aims at conviction and the other at clarity and assent. The first belongs to the judicial, the second to the demonstrative. The latter is essentially persuasive, expository. The soul takes part in it. But in the operations of logic and arithmetic, a kind of calculation alone is employed.

The difference between an axiom and an idea, between a principle and a notion.

Everything that is incontestable is not always, for that reason, clear, evident and felt.

T91.The definition/idea and conviction/clarity-and-assent pairs remain in order. First and second refer to logic and metaphysics; the latter continues the second. Judicial, demonstrative, persuasive and expository are retained as distinct terms without imposing a modern disciplinary scheme. The same paragraph continues onto page 779. The French retains masculine seul employé after feminine une espèce; English calculation alone is employed does not reproduce that agreement anomaly.

T411.The three paragraphs remain one unit across pages 778–779. Only paragraph 1 crosses the page break, after clarté. The former/latter terms, judiciaire/démonstratif distinction, both adjectives and the anomalous masculine seul employé after feminine une espèce remain without grammatical repair. The second paragraph remains nominal, and the third retains the not-always qualification. At the damaged left margin on 779, et, au, L’âme, l’arithmétique, notion and the wrapped dent retain identifiable letters despite abrasion; isolated earlier margin strokes are not promoted to extra words or gaps. The d in dent retains a degraded but identifiable ascender and bowl.

T92.The separate nominal paragraph preserves both comparisons and all four technical nouns.

T93.The not-always qualification and all three final predicates remain. The sentence does not claim that incontestable things can never be felt or understood.

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 II continues the notebooks and includes seventy undated pieces. 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.