La conscience a dû s assoupir, comme la chrysalide dans l enveloppe où elle se prépare des ailes.

Transcription

1 La conscience a dû s assoupir, comme la chrysalide dans l enveloppe où elle se prépare des ailes. Henri Bergson L évolution créatrice Pour faire de la biologie, même avec l aide de l intelligence, nous avons besoin parfois de nous sentir bêtes. Georges Canguilhem La connaissance de la vie i

2 Table of Contents Acknowledgments Abstract Résumé Abbreviations Bibliographical Notes vi ix xii xv xvi Introduction 1 1. Philosophy of Life 3 2. Bergson and Bergsonism 7 3. Canguilhem on Bergsonism Outline 21 Section I. Vitalism in Question: Two Different Critiques Chapter I. The Image of Élan Vital: Bergson on the Problem of Vitalism 1. Bergsonism in the Perplexity of Vitalism Dualism in Bergson s Philosophy The Scheme of L évolution créatrice Bergson on the Difficulty of Vitalism Vitalism and its Relation to Finalism Vitalism and the Limits of Mechanism A Critical Investigation of Élan Vital First Approach: An Alternative to Mechanism and Finalism Second Approach: The Image of Élan Vital Evolution as Organization Two Modes of the Differentiation of Life Two Forms of the Organisation of Living Beings Concluding Remarks 85 Chapter II. Life and Consciousness: Bergson on the Constitution of Knowledge 1. Life contra Knowledge? 87 ii

3 2. Consciousness in the Evolution of Life Freedom of Consciousness Human Consciousness in Evolution Life and Intellect First Principle: Intellect as the Fabrication of Unorganized Matter Second Principle: Intellect as the Constitution of Formal Knowledge Intuition in Evolution: From Instinct to Intuition Instinct as Sympathy The Intuition of Life Concluding Remarks 136 Chapter III. Life, Philosophy and Science: Canguilhem on the Problem of Vitalism 1. Biophilosophy: The Return of Vitalism Canguilhem on the Defence of Vitalism Vitalism in Opposition to Mechanism Vitalism and the Demand of Life The Renewal of Vitalism Concluding Remarks 166 Chapter IV. Life, Norms and the Question of Pathology: Canguilhem on Philosophy of Norms 1. Vitalism: The Implication of Philosophical Norms The Critique of Quantitative Reductionism Broussais s Principle in Search of Objectivity Normality: From Reduction of Norms to Statistical Averages New Concept of Disease Life as Normative Activity Claude Bernard and the Concept of Continuity Leriche and the Consciousness of Disease Goldstein and the Constitution of Individual Norms The Distinction between Health and Disease Disease: The Obstacle of Life The Constitution of Pathology Rationality and Pathological Life 206 iii

4 5. Concluding Remarks 209 Section II. Concept of Life: Two Different Approaches Chapter V. The Method of Intuition: Bergson on Philosophy of Intuition 1. The Task of Philosophy of Intuition Intuition: The Constitution of Absolute Knowledge First Investigation of Intuition: Intuition in Introduction à la métaphysique (1903) Intuition and Metaphysical Knowledge Intuition, Duration and Metaphysics The Opposition between Intuition and Concept True Metaphysics as True Empiricism Second Investigation of Intuition: Intuition in La pensée et le mouvant (1934) Intuition as Philosophical Precision Intuition and the Problem of Generalisation Intuition and the Stating of Problems Concluding Remarks 261 Chapter VI. Matter in the Evolution of Life: Bergson on Matter and Intelligence 1. Matter in Bergson s Philosophy of Life Materiality: The Genesis of Matter Life, Matter and Thermodynamics The Duration of Matter Matter and Memory Body, Brain and the Conservation of Memory Consciousness and Matter Intellectuality: The Genesis of Intelligence Intelligence: The Critique of Understanding Concept: Origin and Renewal Concluding Remarks 343 iv

5 Chapter VII. Milieu, Machine and Monster: Canguilhem on the Investigation of the Living 1. Life and the Living The Living and the Concept of Individuality The Living and Milieu Theories of Evolution: Lamarck and Darwin Ethology and Pathology: Uexküll and Goldstein Genetic Science and Morphological Mutation The Role of the Human Being in Milieu Life and Technology Bergsonism: From Organology to Cyborgology Cartesian Mechanism: From the Mechanical to the Biological Monster and the Problem of Anomaly Science of Monsters: From Imaginary Representation to Biological Concept Teratology: The Monstrous, the Anomalous and the Experimental Concluding Remarks 410 Chapter VIII. Life, Concept and Historical Epistemology: Canguilhem on the Concept of Life 1. New Knowledge of Life Concept and Life The Formation of Reflex Concept The Concept of Life The Question of the Errors of Life The Project of Historical Epistemology Life and Historical Epistemology Science and Scientific Ideology Concluding Remarks 479 Conclusion 481 Bibliography 498 v