Henri Bergson: A Giant of French Philosophy
Henri Bergson (1859-1941) remains one of the most influential French philosophers of the twentieth century. Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, member of the French Academy, Bergson revolutionized philosophical thought by placing intuition, duration, and the vital impulse at the heart of his reflection. His work, remarkably clear, continues to inspire philosophers, artists, and thinkers worldwide.
A Life Dedicated to Thought
Born in Paris in 1859, Henri Bergson studied at the École normale supérieure before teaching in various secondary schools and then at the Collège de France. A brilliant teacher, he attracted crowds of listeners eager to attend his lectures. His thought was built in opposition to the dominant positivism and materialism of his time, proposing a dynamic and creative vision of reality.
Bergson’s Major Works
Among his essential contributions to philosophy are Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness (1889), Matter and Memory (1896), Creative Evolution (1907), and The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932). Each of these works explores the central themes of his philosophy: lived duration, memory, intuition as a mode of knowledge superior to analytical intelligence, and the vital impulse that animates all forms of life.
Laughter: A Philosophical Analysis of the Comic
Published in 1900, Laughter. Essay on the Meaning of the Comic is one of Bergson’s most accessible and fascinating works. In this brilliant text, the philosopher asks: what causes laughter? Why do certain situations make us laugh while others leave us indifferent?
Bergson develops an original thesis: laughter arises from the perception of mechanical rigidity imposed on the living. When a human being behaves like a machine, when life freezes into repetitive gestures or stereotyped attitudes, the comic emerges. Laughter then becomes a social corrective, a way for society to sanction what threatens its flexibility and adaptability.
Why Read Bergson Today?
In an age of artificial intelligence, standardization of behavior, and technological acceleration, Bergson’s thought resonates with troubling relevance. His critique of the mechanization of life, his praise of creative intuition, and his defense of human freedom offer valuable keys to understanding our time.
Laughter, in particular, invites us to reflect on what makes us human: our ability to adapt, to create, to escape automatisms. It is a short, elegant, profound text that is a pleasure to read and nourishes reflection long after reading.
Bergson’s Influence
Bergson’s influence extends far beyond philosophy. Marcel Proust, Gilles Deleuze, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, William James, and many other thinkers have acknowledged their debt to him. His clear style, his ability to make the most abstract concepts accessible, and his optimistic vision of life make him a unique author in the history of thought.
The Nobel Prize in Literature he received in 1927 honored “his rich and vital ideas and the brilliant skill with which they were presented.” A rare honor for a philosopher, this distinction testifies to the universal impact of his work.
📖 "Laughter" by Henri Bergson
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