The Meaning of the War: Life & Matter in Conflict by Henri Bergson

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Author Bergson, Henri, 1859-1941
Commentator Carr, Herbert Wildon, 1857-1931
LoC No. war15000162
Uniform Title Signification de la guerre. English
Title The Meaning of the War: Life & Matter in Conflict
Alternate Title Life and matter in conflict
Contents Introduction -- Life and matter at war -- The force which wastes and that which does not waste.
Credits Produced by Thierry Alberto, Henry Craig, Jeannie Howse
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images
generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Summary "The Meaning of the War: Life & Matter in Conflict" by Henri Bergson is a philosophical examination of the nature of war, written during the early 20th century amid the tumult of World War I. This text, a discourse delivered at the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, delves into the conflict between life and mechanized forces, exploring how these opposing principles manifest in the face of war. Bergson articulates his views on the broader implications of warfare, challenging the materialistic perspectives prevalent at the time. In this work, Bergson argues that World War I represents the struggle between the vibrant forces of life and the rigid mechanisms of a militarized society, particularly criticizing Germany's embrace of a materialistic and militaristic ideology. He contrasts the organic growth of nations with the artificial unification stemming from Prussian militarism, stressing how this mechanized mindset ultimately leads to violence and destruction. As he reflects on the moral implications of war, Bergson emphasizes that true moral and spiritual strength arises from ideals of justice and freedom, which stand in stark opposition to Germany's brute force. Thus, he posits that the outcome of the war is not just a matter of material superiority but a decisive confrontation between moral forces that can rejuvenate humanity and the destructive paths of mechanization. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class D501: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: World War I (1914-1918)
Subject World War, 1914-1918
Subject National characteristics, German
Category Text
EBook-No. 17111
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Dec 13, 2020
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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