BERGSOJfs CONCEPTION OF TIME. £[7 



in the concrete may be the measure of a thousand movement- 

 differing m kind, movements of things animate and inanimate 



Rather than say with Bergson that intellect turns away 

 from the vision of time, we prefer to hold that time eludes 

 the grasp of intellect, not because time is unreal, but because it 

 is one of those ultimate conceptions, which are seen even when 

 our vision is difficult to put into precise words. It would be 

 absurd to deny the fundamental reality of time either because 

 we cannot define it fully ourselves or because we hold 

 that inanimate things are not conscious of time. But 

 whilst refusing to grant any reality to time as usually conceived, 

 Bergson has imagined a gradually evolving duration which is 

 the cause of all that becomes. This Chronos of his, will seem 

 no more capable of being a subject of intuition to many than 

 his mythological counterpart. But to enter that part of the 

 theory of Creative Evolution would lead us far beyond my pro- 

 posed discussion of time and duration. 



It is especially in regard to this new conception of Bergson's 

 that we must quote the words of a follower and admirer ; though 

 in a sense opposite to that in which the words were originally 

 used : 



" Bergson claims of us first of all a certain inner catastrophe, and not every 

 one is capable of such a logical revolution. " * 



To substitute intuition for argument in matters that are 

 either scientific or philosophical is without doubt a consider- 

 able revolution in logic. We can quite believe that anyone who 

 has once made the somersault will find it difficult to revert to a 

 normal position. 



TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES. 



Geological Society of South Africa. — Monday, September 30th . 

 Mr. H. S. Harger, President, in the chair. — "The occurrence of Sidero- 

 plesite and Ankerite in the Cassiterite lodes at Rooiberg " : D. P. 

 MoDcnald. The lode matter in connection with the tin deposits at Rooi- 

 berg consists commonly of sericite, tourmaline and cassiterite. The sericite 

 may be replaced by quartz or by sideroplesite, the introduction of car- 

 bonates being later than the deposition of the cassiterite. — " Note on the 

 origin of the iridosmine in the Banket " : Dr. R. B. Young. The author 

 believes the iridosmine to be an original constituent of the banket, and 

 bases his opinion that it is of detrital origin, inter alia, on the rounded 

 form of the mineral grains and their association with detrital chromite, 

 both being probably derived from ultra basic rocks in the Swaziland 

 system. 



South African Society of Civil Engineers.— Wednesday. October 

 Gth : Mr. R. \V. Menmuir, A.M.I.C.E., in the chair.—" Renewals of bridge- ; 

 Eastern line, Transvaal " : A. Reynolds. The section of railway line 

 between Witbank and Resano Garcia on the Portuguese border was dealt 

 with, the majority of the bridges being situated in the low veld. 



Royal Society of South Africa. — Wednesday, August 21st: Dr. J. 

 K. E. Halm, Vice-President, in the chair. — "The blizzard of June 9-12, 

 1902": A. G. Howard. In continuation of a previous paper by Mr' 



* Gaston Rogeot quoted by W. James in A Pluralistic Universe, p. 266. 



