Over the years I've collected a number of xeroxed articles and manuscript essays . . . and even books. For instance, while at Liberty, a few authors wrote for help and suggestions. Jack Boulogne, a gentleman from Canada, sent me his Hand Book of Practical Morality, and I hope I encouraged him in his enterprise. Unfortunately, it was not right for Liberty, and I didn't see an easy way to edit it down to a manageable essay for the magazine.

The writing of treatises and the writing of magazine articles are often very different things.

When I left Liberty, Boulogne's mss. stayed in my possession. Inadvertantly, perhaps. Or perhaps because I thought that it would just never again be looked at by anyone there.

Now, as I index my whole library onto a database, I begin wondering about Mr. Boulogne's book. Did it ever get published?

Well, here's something: The Moral Code: A Catechism, by Jacob Boulogne. Almost certainly this is what his handbook became. The subtitle, A Catechism shows a pleasing independent streak. (It's not in to write catechisms these days, is it?)

I am thinking of buying the book. Bernard Gert's work — on which it is based — is not quite up my alley, in ethics, but Boulogne is right to admire Gert's low-nonsense attempt at setting something in fixity, a few rules. Further, Boulogne makes little pretense of originality. His aim, I think, has been consistent: to follow Gert, and improve on Gert's understanding of everyday, commonsense morality, in part by upgrading the concept of liberty.

Gert's own work on the subject is well worth reading anyway, and I should get back to it soon.

The best thing about Gert is his realization that, when it comes to justifying rules, one cannot demand any kind of perfection as a source for the rules' salience, but merely aim to get rid of some bad things. Gert is a moralist who's studied his Hobbes. It's by opposing evil, and not enshrining The Good, that morality gains any hope and hint of universality.

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