The Collected Works of Henri Bergson (eBook)

Henri Bergson (1859–1941) was a prominent French philosopher known for his innovative blend of modern scientific thinking with the philosophical traditions of his time. Born in Paris to a Jewish family of Polish descent, Bergson was a precocious student, winning several prizes for his work in philosophy. As a professor at the Collège de France, he gained widespread acclaim for his lectures and the publication of several significant works that have left a lasting impact on both philosophy and psychology. His opus, 'The Collected Works of Henri Bergson,' encompasses the most important aspects of his thought, through texts such as 'Time and Free Will' (1889), which introduced his concept of duration, a theory widely influential in the understanding of time and consciousness. Other notable works include 'Matter and Memory' (1896), 'Creative Evolution' (1907), and 'The Two Sources of Morality and Religion' (1932). Bergson's writing is characterized by a lyrical prose style and a refusal to be confined by the strictures of mechanistic science. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927 for his rich and vital ideas, expressed with sophisticated artistry. Bergson's thought remains deeply relevant, influencing existentialism and process philosophy, and even extending to modern discussions in the realms of metaphysics and the philosophy of mind. His literary legacy continues to inspire and provoke thought across diverse scholarly domains.