New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-04
COLUMBIA GIVES LIT. D.
DEGREE TO DR.. BERCSON
French Philosopher Honored by
University Before He Begins
Lecture Course.
PAYS TRIBUTE TO JAMES
Philosophy Needed to Bring Us
Closer to Fact-Its Field
Mind, as Matter Is of
Science, He Declares.

Henri Bereson. professor Of philosophy
q, the College dc France and considered
~, many the most eminent European phil
osorher Of the day, gave the first Of
series Of ok lectures on Spirituality and
liberty" I'm Havemeyer Hall. Columbia
University. yesterday afternoon. Before
the lecture began the degree Of Doctor oil
Letters was conferred on Professor Berg
son by tho trustees Of the university.
In Introducing Dr. BergSon professor
Woodbridge. Of the department OF philos-
ONLY. congratulated Columbia on the
privilege Of listening TO one whose work
hade fair 10 revolutionize the thought of
the day DR.. BerCson, in replying. paid a
high tribute 10 American philosophy, say
ipg that II IL had done nothing more than
give William James to the world II would
have done enough FOR two centuries at
least lie continued
Ne OF to-day feel the need OF a phi
losouhy which viii bring US closer 20
setuol fact. philosophy which VIII he
m. merely an intellectual recreation. but
one which will supply us with the dom
iuant motive in life. Art IS sumulant'
II heightens our vitality, whets our APP
petite for life. A great drama or novel
sharpens our enjoyment or life ana
gives US q deeper view into the NIStas
which the rush of ordinary living hides
from US. $1,000
There are two ways Of philosophizing,
one OF which is BY reasoning on alb
stract ideas, which We manufacture INTO
svsteTs This method results IN dog
natsm. which is sterile and useless.
the second method is that Of selt-con-
centration so intense 2s 10 become n
tuition and the linking Of these lntul-
tions together by rea soninC. such 4
method would make philosophy possible
20 all 10 would free II from the re-
nroach OF being merely the sport or q
fep highly trained and wholly useless
dreameTs.
mind as the field of science is that OF
matter When We think Of mind we
think almost exclusively of thought ana
will and chiefly OF will. We can't make
will out Of thought; We can. by effort OF
will think Nolition. not thought ~ the
basis of conscious life. and in philoso-
phizing about life we should start from
the fact Of Will, not a. so many THINK
ers have done in the past. from the fact
OF thought
This becomes more clear il We remem-
Der that our memories are first of all
aids 10 action. II a situation IN when
We find ourselves requires instant dClon
and the memory Of certain names or
hElIts 10 mart ludt dNt4OiI ''cN.,T,
they flas suddenly upon US lntelh-
genCe. then. or memory, Is function OF
will. II is not designed for aoStract
speculation. but 20 enlarge and ilumlne
our field of action. The whole thing
could be put in these words. viii can
create thought. but thought cannot ere
ate Will
Before he went TO the lecture hail. Dr.
Bergson. In cap and gown, and accom-
panied by Dean r. j. r. Woodbridge.
head Of the Columbia graduate school o.
philosophy. and the members Of the fac
uty Of that school assembled in the tr1s-
tees room in the Low Library just after
o'clock. Dean Woodbridge presented d..
Bersson for the degree Of Doctor ~ Let
,ers and President Nicholas Murray But
Ter conferred the honorary diploma