Henri Bergson

Vocation

Notable

Henri Bergson was one of the most famous and influential French philosophers of the late 19th century-early 20th century. His philosophy cut across many characterisations, but he helped to promote the idea that experience and intuition are as significant, if not more so than rationalism and science. He also developed a philosophy of multiplicity. He was awarded the Nobel prize for Literature for 1927. The announcement was on 13 November 1928. Because of serious rheumatics ailments, he could not travel to Stockholm. Although Jewish, he was always ambivalent about his own religious beliefs, it was suggested towards the end of his life he converted to Catholicism, though this hasn't been proved. He didn't try to hide his Jewishness and in 1941 rejected an opportunity to escape the Vichy laws on racial segregation. However, during the Dreyfus affair at the turn of the century, he refused to take part in the national debate, when it appeared a Jewish officer had been framed. He was honoured by France throughout his life. He was the first Jewish person to be elected to the Académie Française in 1918. In 1930 he was awarded the Highest honour of France, the Grand-Croix de la Legion d'honneur. He died on 4 January 1941, aged 81. Link to Wikipedia biography