Page:Mind (New Series) Volume 12.djvu/566

 552 NEW BOOKS. Chapter iv., on Malebranche's contributions to empirical psychology, is excellent. The only omission of importance, that I have noted, is the absence of all reference to his analysis of the visual perception of distance and magnitude. This is to be found in the Reponse a M. Regis, and to some extent anticipates, in Malebranche's very individual way, the later results of Berkeley. M. Joly also continues from chapter iii. the treatment of the problem of the freedom of the will. Again he seeks to meet all objections to Malebranche's position. On such a thorny problem there is plenty of room for difference of opinion, but surely in asserting (p. 138) that the charge against Malebranche of denying freedom is " absolument erronee " he overstates his case. A chapter on Malebranche's ethics, and a brief characterisation of his system as a whole, conclude the volume. The reader will find useful the numerous references to Malebranche's minor works to the Eclair cissements, Lettres a M. Arnauld, and Reponse a M. Regis. In these occasional writings Malebranche frequently, under the stimulus of controversy, states his positions in even more pointed and vivid fashion than in his systematic treatises. Unfortunately these writings are not very accessible. Jules Simon's very convenient edition in four volumes does not even contain the Traite de Morale, and the older more complete editions are no longer easily procurable. It is to be hoped that a new edition of Malebranche's works may appear before long. NORMAN SMITH. Rene Descartes, Meditationes de Prima Philosophia. Nach der pariser Originalausgabe und der erster franzosischen Ubersetzung mit Anmerkungen herausgegeben. Von Dr. C. GUTTLER, Professor an der Universitat, Munchen. Miinchen : Oscar Beck, 1901. This volume should be a decided convenience to students of Descartes' Meditations. It sets alongside of one another the Latin of the original 1641 edition and the first French translation. The reader is thus ensured a correct text, and also is saved the trouble of referring to different volumes for comparison of the Latin and French renderings. Herr Giittler : s purely historical introduction gives a careful statement of all that is known with regard to the origin and publication of the Meditations and of the French translation. That translation, as is well known, is authori- tative. Executed by the Due de Luynes, it was revised by Descartes himself. And in a letter to Clerselier, who translated the accompanying Objectiones, Descartes has declared that in parts the meaning is more ade- quately and clearly expressed than in the Latin. The editor intends this volume to be used as a University text-book, and accordingly has appended numerous notes to the Meditations. Of these only a few are historical or bibliographical ; the rest will doubtless be of assistance to elementary students. The sole unsatisfactory feature of this very scholarly volume is the omission of the Objections. In their place the editor gives at the end of each Meditation a brief statement of the relevant Objections and Descartes's Replies. As such summarising is determined by the writer's own interpretation of Descartes's Philosophy, the otherwise impersonal character of the volume is somewhat impaired. NORMAN SMITH.