Henri Bergson stands as one of the most influential French philosophers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His most enduring contribution to philosophical thought lies in his concept of multiplicity, which seeks to unify seemingly contradictory features: heterogeneity and continuity. Though often challenging, this concept is widely regarded as revolutionary for paving the way toward a new understanding of community.
The book is a facsimile reprint of a scarce antiquarian work, preserving its historical significance and cultural importance. Readers should be aware that due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, and flawed pages. This edition aims to protect and promote classic literature, offering an affordable and high-quality version that remains faithful to the original text.
While intelligence treats everything mechanically, instinct proceeds, so to speak, organically. If...we could ask and it could reply, it would give up to us the most intimate secrets of life. -from Chapter II Anticipating not only modern scientific theories of psychology but also those of cosmology, this astonishing book sets out a impressive goal for itself: to reconcile human biology with a theory of consciousness. First published in France in 1907, and translated into English in 1911, this work of wonder was esteemed at the time in scientific circles and in the popular culture alike for its profound explorations of perception and memory and its surprising conclusions about the nature and value of art. Contending that intuition is deeper than intellect and that the real consequence of evolution is a mental freedom to grow, to change, to seek and create novelty, Bergson reinvigorated the theory of evolution by refusing to see it as merely mechanistic. His expansion on Darwin remains one of the most original and important philosophical arguments for a scientific inquiry still under fire today. French philosopher HENRI BERGSON (1859-1941) was born in Paris. Among his works are Matter and Memory (1896), An Introduction to Metaphysics (1903), and The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1927.
French philosopher Henri Bergson produced four major works in his lifetime, the second of which, "Matter and Memory", is a philosophical and complex nineteenth century exploration of human nature and the spirituality of memory. In this work, Bergson investigates the function of the brain, and opposes the idea of memory being of a material nature, lodged within a particular part of the nervous system. He makes a claim early in this essay that Matter and Memory "is frankly dualistic," leading to a careful consideration of the problems in the relation of body and mind. His theories on sense, dualism, pure perception, concept of virtuality and famous image of the memory cone often make Bergson's essay a confusing and challenging existentialist work. However, the years of research and extensive pathological investigations spent in preparation for this and other essays have gained Bergson great distinction as a brilliant, though unjustly neglected, theorist and philosopher.
Bergson argues for free will by showing that the arguments against it come from a confusion of different conceptions of time. As opposed to physicists' idea of measurable time, in human experience life is perceived as a continuous and unmeasurable flow rather than as a succession of marked-off states of consciousness-something that can be measured not quantitatively, but only qualitatively. His conclusion is that free will is an observable fact.
Exploring the nature of laughter, Henri Bergson's treatise delves into its essential role in human society. He argues that comedy serves as a caricature of human behavior, necessitating emotional detachment for laughter to occur. Additionally, laughter fosters social bonds while also distinguishing individuals. This insightful examination offers valuable perspectives for comedians and humor writers, as well as anyone seeking to understand humor's significance in social interactions. This edition features premium acid-free paper and follows a respected translation.
Life & Matter in Conflict
Set against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict, this historical work explores the deeper implications of war on life and existence. It presents a thoughtful examination of the meaning behind the struggles faced during such tumultuous times. The publisher, Forgotten Books, emphasizes the preservation of the original format while addressing imperfections in the text, ensuring that this significant work remains accessible to readers interested in historical perspectives on war.
Gilles Deleuze beschäftigte sich früh mit Henri Bergson, der vor Sartre eine zentrale Figur der französischen Philosophie war. Seine Monographie »Le bergsonisme« (1966) gilt in Frankreich als Standardwerk und erschließt zentrale Begriffe Bergsons, während sie dessen kritische Auseinandersetzung mit den exakten Wissenschaften fortführt. Bereits 1957 stellte Deleuze einen Band mit Textauszügen aus Bergsons wichtigsten Werken zusammen, der hier unter dem Titel »Philosophie der Dauer« erstmals auf Deutsch erscheint. Dieser Band bildet die Materialsammlung zu »Bergsonisme« und markiert die Wiederentdeckung Bergsons in Frankreich nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. Deleuze’ geschickte Aneinanderreihung von Textpassagen aus »Zeit und Freiheit«, »Materie und Gedächtnis« sowie der »Schöpferischen Evolution« bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über Bergsons Denken. Im Fokus steht die Dauer, die nicht als starre zeitliche Abfolge, sondern als kontinuierlicher Wandel verstanden wird. Dauer ist das zentrale Konzept, mit dem die Philosophie das »immerwährende Fließen der Dinge« erfasst, im Gegensatz zu den experimentellen Wissenschaften. Alle Texte wurden von Margarethe Drewsen einheitlich neu übersetzt, und der Band fungiert als kompakte Einführung in Bergsons Philosophie.
Bergson a marqué l'importance de certains de ses " essais en conférences ", en les rassemblant dans deux recueils : L'énergie spirituelle en 1919, La pensée et le mouvant en 1934. Il faut donc tout à la fois replacer ces écrits dans ses recueils (et dans l'ensemble de son œuvre), et les lire pour eux-mêmes. Dans l'Introduction à la métaphysique (1903), il propose une méthode pour dépasser l'écart qui nous sépare du réel et de nous-mêmes. Texte décisif en lui-même, à la charnière de sa vie et de son œuvre, étincelle qui enflamma la controverse du " bergsonisme " en Europe et au-delà, il importe plus que jamais de le redécouvrir.
Les deux sources de la morale et de la religion : " humanité gémit, à demi écrasée sous le poids des progrès qu'elle a faits. Elle ne sait pas assez que son avenir dépend d'elle. A elle de voir d'abord si elle veut continuer à vivre. A elle de se demander ensuite si elle veut vivre seulement, ou fournir en outre l'effort nécessaire pour que s'accomplisse, jusque sur notre planète réfractaire, la fonction essentielle de l'univers qui est machine à faire des dieux. " Dans son dernier grand livre, Bergson s'efforce de " montrer " Dieu, en quelque sorte dans toutes ses dimensions. Il interroge ainsi les problèmes éthiques et religieux, en esquisse l'histoire, distingue morale close et morale ouverte ainsi que religion statique et dynamique. Figure tutélaire de la philosophie française moderne, Henri Bergson (1859-1941) a élaboré sa pensée via une analyse critique des méthodes et des résultats scientifiques de son époque. Spiritualiste, sa philosophie se veut " un retour conscient et réfléchi aux données de l'intuition ", qui seule nous permet de coïncider avec le mouvement libre et créateur de la vie et de l'esprit.
