A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson | Page 3

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A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson
by
Edouard le Roy
Translated from the French by
Vincent Benson

Preface
This little book is due to two articles published under the same title in
the "Revue des Deux Mondes", 1st and 15th February 1912.
Their object was to present Mr Bergson's philosophy to the public at
large, giving as short a sketch as possible, and describing, without too
minute details, the general trend of his movement. These articles I have
here reprinted intact. But I have added, in the form of continuous notes,

some additional explanations on points which did not come within the
scope of investigation in the original sketch.
I need hardly add that my work, though thus far complete, does not in
any way claim to be a profound critical study. Indeed, such a study,
dealing with a thinker who has not yet said his last word, would today
be premature. I have simply aimed at writing an introduction which
will make it easier to read and understand Mr Bergson's works, and
serve as a preliminary guide to those who desire initiation in the new
philosophy.
I have therefore firmly waived all the paraphernalia of technical
discussions, and have made no comparisons, learned or otherwise,
between Mr Bergson's teaching and that of older philosophies.
I can conceive no better method of misunderstanding the point at issue,
I mean the simple unity of productive intuition, than that of
pigeon-holing names of systems, collecting instances of resemblance,
making up analogies, and specifying ingredients. An original
philosophy is not meant to be studied as a mosaic which takes to pieces,
a compound which analyses, or a body which dissects. On the contrary,
it is by considering it as a living act, not as a rather clever discourse, by
examining the peculiar excellence of its soul rather than the formation
of its body, that the inquirer will succeed in understanding it. Properly
speaking, I have only applied to Mr Bergson the method which he
himself justifiably prescribes in a recent article ("Revue de
Metaphysique et de Morale", November 1911), the only method, in fact,
which is in all senses of the word fully "exact." I shall none the less be
glad if these brief pages can be of any interest to professional
philosophers, and have endeavoured, as far as possible, to allow them
to trace, under the concise formulae employed, the scheme which I
have refused to develop.
It has become evident to me that even today the interpretation of Mr
Bergson's position is in many cases full of faults, which it would
undoubtedly be worth while to assist in removing. I may or may not
have succeeded in my attempt, but such, at any rate, is the precise end I
had in view.
In conclusion, I may say that I have not had the honour of being Mr
Bergson's pupil; and, at the time when I became acquainted with his
outlook, my own direct reflection on science and life had already

produced in me similar trains of thought. I found in his work the
striking realisation of a presentiment and a desire. This
"correspondence," which I have not exaggerated, proved at once a help
and a hindrance to me in entering into the exact comprehension of so
profoundly original a doctrine. The reader will thus understand that I
think it in place to quote my authority to him in the following lines
which Mr Bergson kindly wrote me after the publication of the articles
reproduced in this volume: "Underneath and beyond the method you
have caught the intention and the spirit...Your study could not be more
conscientious or true to the original. As it advances, condensation
increases in a marked degree: the reader becomes aware that the
explanation is undergoing a progressive involution similar to the
involution by which we determine