Bergson's Philosophy of Will and the War of 1914-1918.
Journal of the history of ideas July 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1353/jhi.2016.0020 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractHenri Bergson's wartime speeches of 1914 drew on his philosophy of creative evolution to contrast France and Germany: France, as a nation of creative life, could renew itself, while Germany, despite its technological strength, was a mechanistic power destined to exhaust itself. This paper argues that Bergson's mobilization of his philosophy relied on his concept of will—life as a creative principle is will, and he opposed to Germany a controllable, commandable willpower. Understanding this is essential for interpreting Bergson's later thoughts on technology, modernity, and mysticism.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Argues that Bergson's wartime mobilization of his philosophy of creative evolution depends on his conception of will as a controllable force, which shapes his later reflections on technology and mysticism. |
Abstract
In his wartime discourses of 1914, Henri Bergson mobilizes his philosophy of creative evolution: France is a nation of creative life able to replenish itself, whereas Germany, for all its technological might, is a mechanistic power bound to wear itself out. This paper shows that this moblization is made possible by Bergson's philosophy of will: life as a creative principle is will, and it is a controllable and commandable willpower that he opposes to Germany. Grasping this is crucial for understanding not only the war discourses but also Bergson's later reflections on technology, modernity, and mysticism.