2, 1842); Javary, De l'idee de progres (1850); Rigault, Histoire de la querelle des Anciens et des Modernes (1856); Bouillier, Histoire de la philosophie cartesienne (1854); Caro, Problemes de la morale sociale (1876); Brunetiere, La Formation de l'idee de progres, in Etudes critiques, 5e serie.

More recently M.Jules Delvaille has attempted to trace its history fully, down to the end of the eighteenth century.

His Histoire de l'idee de progres (1910) is planned on a large scale; he is erudite and has read extensively.

But his treatment is lacking in the power of discrimination.

He strikes one as anxious to bring within his net, as theoriciens du progres, as many distinguished thinkers as possible; and so, along with a great deal that is useful and relevant, we also find in his book much that is irrelevant.