Publisher's Synopsis
The Meaning of the War
Life and Matter in Conflict
By Henri Bergson
With an introduction by H. Wildon Carr
This little volume contains the discourse delivered by M. Bergson as President of the _AcadEmie des Sciences Morales et Politiques_ at its annual public meeting on December 12, 1914. It is the address which preceded the announcement of the prizes and awards bestowed by the Academy. It is now issued in book form with the consent of the author, and his full appreciation of the object, to give it the widest circulation. Although it is brief, it is a message addressed directly to the heart of our people in the crisis of war. To it is added a short article on the same theme, contributed to the _Bulletin des ArmEes de la REpublique_, November 4, 1914.
It has been said that war, with all its terrible evils, is the occasion of at least one good which humanity values as above price: it inspires great poetry. On the other hand, it seems to crush philosophy. Many may think that in this message it is poetry to which M. Bergson is giving expression. It is, however, from the depth of his philosophy that the inspiration is drawn.
