Bergson and his Influence: A Reassessment

The ideas of Henri Bergson (1859-1941) have long been recognised as a major turning-point in, and influence upon, intellectual life. This 1976 book outlines the main themes of his philosophy and seeks to clarify the much-debated question of how operative a role he played, through a detailed study of his personal and intellectual relationships with four younger contemporaries: Charles Peguy, an ardent but not altogether fruitful disciple; Marcel Proust and Paul Valéry, who disclaimed all influence and indeed affinity; and Julien Benda, who cast Bergson among the clercs who had betrayed him. In his final chapter Dr Pilkington provides some perspectives to situate Bergson in the wider context of the intellectual life of the period. The main purpose of the book was to make a fresh contribution to an important chapter in the history of ideas in the modern period and to define, more precisely, some Bergsonian influences and affinities.