From the book
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volumes I–II
Joseph Joubert · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordHomme often names humanity collectively, while nature humaine may name the tendencies an argument seeks to defend or discipline.
- In JoubertLife is described as made to be practiced and the world inhabited, emphasizing activity over complete knowledge.
- In this editionThe English translation retains the historical collective “man” and the reported attribution.
- A place to beginLife and world are assigned practical purposes.
- English renderings
- man; human nature
Meaning
Homme often names humanity collectively, while nature humaine may name the tendencies an argument seeks to defend or discipline. The notebook’s use should not be mistaken for a single settled anthropology.
Use in the book
Life is described as made to be practiced and the world inhabited, emphasizing activity over complete knowledge. In the anger discussion, Father André’s reported “cause of human nature” identifies a charitable accommodation of passion. The why-of-qualities formula combines goodness, being human and being God’s work. The limitation on inner sense then denies that any person is destined to know everything or never err. These different accents make finite knowledge compatible with dignity and accountable conduct.
Places to read
- I, p. 143, entry 1, ¶1Life and world are assigned practical purposes.
- I, p. 422, entry 2, ¶1An attributed defense of anger is called pleading for human nature.
- II, p. 745, entry 1, ¶1Human qualities are related to goodness and divine making.
- II, p. 854, entry 13, ¶1Human knowledge is expressly finite and fallible.
Translation in this edition
The English translation retains the historical collective “man” and the reported attribution. “Most” limits the claim about qualities, while the no-one/everything/never sequence limits knowledge. This entry does not silently make homme gender-exclusive in contexts where humanity is the subject.
Source note
Beaunier 1938, I, pp. 143, 422; II, pp. 745, 854.