Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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French Page · Branch 4056 of 4529
YEAR 1818 · Entry 7837
French
p. 81113 avril.
Le sophisme est un fantôme, une apparence de bon raisonnement et de raison. « La philosophie (disoit Mʳ Frizel) n’est qu’un art ou une habitude de diriger son esprit par des sophismes » et en effet elle ne se fonde jamais que sur des apparences ou des probabilités. Si le but est bon et que ces sophismes, ces apparences, ces probabilités y fassent arriver l’esprit, notre philosophie est bonne. Si le but est mauvais, tout ce qui nous y mène nous perd et la philosophie est mauvaise. C’est donc par son but et par son effet qu’il faut juger de toute philosophie. J’ajoute aussi par ses moyens. Car il est des chemins qui égarent même quand on les suit pour arriver à un but louable. L’intention a beau être bonne, si la direction est mauvaise, si la marche a un mauvais sens, on arrive au mal.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1818
p. 8112April 3.
A sophism is a phantom, an appearance of good reasoning and reason. “Philosophy (Mr. Frizel said) is only an art or a habit of directing one’s mind by sophisms,” and indeed it is never founded on anything but appearances or probabilities. If the aim is good and these sophisms, these appearances, these probabilities bring the mind to it, our philosophy is good. If the aim is bad, everything that leads us to it ruins us, and philosophy is bad. It is therefore by its aim and its effect that one must judge every philosophy. I add: also by its means. For there are paths that lead astray even when one follows them to reach a praiseworthy aim. However good the intention may be, if the direction is bad, if one’s course takes a bad direction, one arrives at evil.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1818 · Entry 7837
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 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.