[79] I reserve, as well understood, the question of education, in order
to simplify matters here.
[80] A ground of mutual understanding would be supplied by accepting
the distinction proposed by P. Carus between _constraint_, which alone
excludes freedom, and _necessity_, which leaves our will free within
the limits of our character. Already Plotinus had written: “How can it
be said of this being (he who obeys his nature) that he obeys, if he is
not constrained to follow something external?” (6th _Enn._ lib. viii.)—I
recommend to the curious on these questions the book of M. BERTAULD,
_Méthode Spiritualiste, Esprit et Liberté_. M. Bertauld places freedom
in _autonomy_, which is perfectly reconcilable with psychological
determinism; there is on the contrary, he declares, no radical
contradiction between determinism and free-will, and indeterminism is
an absurd conception. The work is well written, and I do not intend to
belittle it by mentioning it in a simple note.
[81] In this relation, I will particularly refer to the great work, in
course of publication, of M. B. MALON, _Le Socialisme intégral_, and I
recommend at the same time the article _Justice and Socialism_ of M.
Belot, which has been much spoken of, in the number for February last of
the _Revue Philosophique_.
[82] All the works mentioned in this article are published by F. Alcan.