ABSTRACT
In 1799 the Acadmie des sciences in Paris announced an essay competition on the subject of habit. Pierre Maine de Biran is referring here to the difficulty of reflecting on what is habitual rather than on habit itself. Nevertheless, habit could be added to his list of the familiar things that we normally allow to go unnoticed. Habit is, quite literally, an everyday phenomenon. In spite of the difficulty of reflecting on habit, most of our great philosophers have something interesting to say about it. Often their views conflict with one another. Aristotle thinks that habit lies at the heart of moral life. Spinoza argues that it leads us astray and prevents us from perceiving the deep intelligibility of nature. The most interesting philosophers of habit are those who recognize its duplicity. G. W. F. Hegel is particularly willing to acknowledge habits positive and negative aspects: habit is often spoken of disparagingly and called lifeless, casual and particular.
