Creative EvolutionThe most famous and influential work of distinguished French philosopher Henri Bergson (1859–1941), Creative Evolution features the fullest expression of the philosopher's ideas about the problem of existence, propounding a theory of evolution completely distinct from these of earlier thinkers and scientists. In discussing the meaning of life, Bergson considers the order of nature and the form of intelligence, including the geometrical tendency of the intellect, and examines mechanisms of thought and illusion. In addition, he presents a critique of the idea of immutability and the concept of nothingness, from Plato and Aristotle through the evolutionism of his contemporaries. Bergson's influence on Marcel Proust and other twentieth-century writers renders a grasp of his theories imperative to students of literature as well as philosophy. Historians of science and other readers will also appreciate the importance of this milestone in philosophical and evolutionary thought. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 23 | |
The quest of a criterionExamination of the various theories | 78 |
Result of the inquiryThe vital impetus | 87 |
CHAPTER II | 98 |
The relation of the animal to the plantGeneral tendency | 105 |
torpor intelligence | 135 |
The nature of the intellect | 141 |
ON THE MEANING OF LIFETHE ORDER OF NATURE | 186 |
Simultaneous genesis of matter and intelligenceGeometry | 217 |
Creation and evolutionIdeal genesis of matterThe origin | 236 |
CHAPTER IV | 272 |
Form and Becoming | 299 |
two views of Time | 329 |
Descartes | 345 |
The Criticism of Kant e | 356 |
The nature of instinct | 167 |
Life and consciousnessThe apparent place of man in nature | 176 |
The evolutionism of Spencer e | 363 |
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Common terms and phrases
accidental action adaptation affirmation amoeba ancient ancient philosophy animal Aristotle arthropods becoming body cause cell cinematographical complete concepts consciousness continuity contrary coördinated creates creation definite Descartes direction divergent duration effect effort elements energy essential everything evolution evolutionism evolved existence experience explain express external fact faculty finality function geometry glycogen human hymenoptera hypothesis idea individual inert matter infinitely instinct intellect intelligence intuition kind knowledge larva laws Leibniz less living material mathematical means mechanism ment metaphysics mind mobility molluscs movement nature negation nervous system object once organism original pass perceive perception philosophy physical Plato Plotinus point of view positive positive science possible precisely present principle protoplasm psychical pure reality regard relation represent retina sense simple solar system space speak species spermatozoon Spinoza suppose tendency theory things thought true variations vegetable vertebrates vital whole word