New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-08
Two Studies in Bergson'S
Philosophy.

limo. I'D. xix. 25L Longmans Green &
Co.
HENRI BERGsoN: THE PHILOSOPHY
OF CHANGE. BY II. WELDON Carr
FFontispicce. Emo. up. * u. Inc
Dodge Publishing Company
The role of a special providence could
rot have been in the thoughts of Pro-
fessor William James when, at OXFORD
some four years ago, he devoted one OF
his "Hibbert'' lectures to 81 discussion
al the philosophical contribution OF NJ.
Rergson; yet his engaging exposition
and temperate praise went far toward
widening the circle of learners in the
school Of creative evolution" Al
that time none of the French philos-
ophers works had been translated.
They are all now available in English
including books twenty years old in the
original, and although containing things
hard TO be understood they are being
diligently pondered. "Bergson's origi-
nality is so profusc that many of his
ideas battle me entirely" said Professor
James. Il doubt whether any one
understands him all over. so to speak;
and am sure he would himself be the
first to sec that this must be, and TO
confess that things which he himself
has not vet thought out clearly had yet
10 be mentioned and have a tentative
splace assigned them in his philosophy
For ell that, the Harvard scholar held
TO his admirations. open Bergson.
and new horizons loom on every page
you read 1t is like the breath of
morning and the song of birds
When Mr.. Elliot and his sponsor
open BcrgsoD the breath of the morn
ing and the song of birds are alike
wanting In the preface Sir Ray Lam
kester has word to say about the ad-
.mirabe facility of the diction. As for
the subject matter that, indeed, is
worthless and Improbable, causing
waste Of time and confusion of thought
to many Of those VINO have been in
duced to read the volumes Of the now
famous creator of illusions. If Turk
ing excellence may be detected, it is in
the fact that ito the student Of the
alterations and monstrosities of the
mind Of man NJ. Bergson's works will
always be documents of value. But it
is an injustice as well as an inaccuracy
to speak of their author as great or
French or a philosopher.
The same frugality in the use Of
eulogistic adjectives is to be observed
when we listen to Mr.. Elliot himself.
He would expose with uncompromising
frankness the illusions and perversions
OF the metaphysical "Confusions-Meis-
ter" In justice to the reader he feels
that he must be lucid, in justice to
p ofessor Bergson he must be obscure.
Then there is the added difficulty that
much of what the SaVant has TO say is
mere metaphysics All the world
knows the futility of philosophical
speculation. Has not metaphysics
found It's classic description in the pict-
urc OF a blind man with an unlighted
candle looking. on dark night, for a
black cat nat isn't there? In the
premises Mr.. Elliots duty is clear. He
will investigate only such portions Of
the Bergsonian system as profess to he
founded on facts, and, therefore. TO
come within the province of science.
Take the doctrine that instinct, not in
tellect. is the appropriate guide for the
discovery Of vital phenomena. Berg
sons proof Of this remarkable state
ment involves the fallacy that, the in
tellect having failed in this, that or the
Other department of inquiry into vital
phenomena, it is proved an erroneous
guide; therefore. instinct is a true
guide. There is only one way of show
and that way is TO supply facts which
prove it; but not one such fact is
offered us.
Examining another characteristic
idea. that we readily perceive psychical
life TO be made of time, which is a stuff
both resistant and substantial, Mr..
Elliot declares that he perceives moth
ing of the kind, readily or unreadily.
If time is substantial stuff. possessing
resistance, it should be possible to prick
II Will VI " diltilH &c IL
cally, or put a little in ones pocket.
Tie author deals next with the con-
ception that life is q current running
through matter, and he brings n John
sonian finality TO bear on the august
pretensions of the elan vital" He OBJ
serves:
Rergson afirms that life Is something
more than abstraction, comprising all liv-
ing creatures. We'll, if IL IL something
more We ought to have facts TO prove IT,
Ne know of life only al implying living
things and IL there is life in the abstract
we should be directed how TO find II.
IL IL no good telling US TO think hard
about Il; facts are required, apd facts
alone No amount OF thinking is of any
use. unless we have material . think
with.
Reinforcing his warnings against the
ambitious and bootless soaring OF
speculative intuition. Mr.. Elliot asks
attention TO the deeply opposed ten
dercies persisting throughout phlos-
clhy. the one Platonic and subjective
ia method, the other Aristotelian and
objective. His chapter on the progress
OF philosophy in its temper wildly re-
calls G.. II. Lewes's biographical his
tory concerning which Charles w.
Shields once remarked that il was writ
ten to prove that theology and meta
,.b,-o;rg hoya for scptpriec baan otoaa