CHAPTER III 



M. BERGSON'S ' CREATIVE EVOLUTION ' 



I HAVE already, on several occasions, had to quote M. 

 Bergson. It is now desirable to undertake a methodical 

 study of his work with the view of ascertaining whether 

 it brings us nearer a solution of the problem of evolution. 



Although I wish to consider here only those ideas 

 of M. Bergson which deal with evolution, I shall not 

 be able to avoid some references to his general philo- 

 sophical system. His theory of Creative Evolution is, 

 no doubt, his masterpiece; but its leading idea cannot 

 be grasped apart from his other works. 



I shall therefore endeavour faithfully to reproduce 

 the main outlines of his system without taking sides 

 either with its obstinate detractors, or its devout 

 disciples. 



I. SUMMARY OF THE BERGSONIAN THEORY OF 



EVOLUTION 



M. Bergson admits transformism, he considers 

 its proof sufficient and unquestionable. But, he adds, 

 even if they were not, the evolutionary concept could 

 not be put aside. He endeavours to demonstrate this 

 necessity in pages which are certainly the most powerful, 

 the most profound, and the most noteworthy of any 

 that he has written. 



* Let us suppose that transformism were con- 

 victed of error. Let us suppose that by inference 

 or experiment, species were shown to arise by 



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