Jules Payot’s Education of the Will is a pedagogical and psychological work that systematically addresses the subject of will training. First published in 1895, the book identifies weakness of will as a fundamental problem for students and “intellectual workers,” explaining its relation to laziness, distraction, and fleeting passions. Payot examines the functioning of the will through the triad of thought, emotion, and action, highlighting the importance of sustained effort, deep reflection, regular action, and physical health in the cultivation of willpower.

The work advocates the development of free will along with pedagogical recommendations, and gained wide circulation not only in early 20th-century Europe but also in Turkey through various translations.

Subject and Theme

The central subject of the work is to explain the causes of weakness of will, particularly among students, and to propose methods to overcome it. Payot approaches the functioning of the will within the framework of thought, emotion, and action. He defines obstacles such as laziness, distraction, short-lived passions, and sensuality, and recommends countermeasures such as deep reflection, regular action, the shaping of habits, maintaining bodily health, and making use of environmental factors. The book deals with the conscious training of the will, thereby strengthening both work discipline and moral attitude.

The theme centers on the strengthening of human will against weaknesses through education. The will is considered as a unity of thought–emotion–action, while obstacles such as laziness, disorder, and passing passions are countered by disciplined work, deep thinking, the management of habits, regular action, and physical health as means for self-improvement.

Form and Style

In form, the book displays a didactic and systematic structure. The table of contents is detailed; each book and chapter is numbered. Concepts are defined, explained with examples, and opposing views are criticized. Thus, the work functions both as a theoretical study and a practical guide.

The narrative technique is didactic, expository, and instructional. The author defines concepts and supports them with examples; he systematically presents problems related to the training of the will and then introduces solutions step by step. Methods such as comparison, quotation, and critique are frequently used; the views of philosophers are cited and discussed. Explanations are given in an objective style, avoiding storytelling or subjective expressions. In this way, the work is written with a scientific order, employing a teaching-oriented narrative technique.