• CHAPTER VII ‑Frivolous Cupid Cover
      by LovelyMay In "Marriage by Compulsion," Duke Deodonato, ruler of a duchy, is persuaded by Dr. Fusbius that marriage is the best state for humans. Consequently, Deodonato decrees that all single men over twenty-one must marry within three weeks. However, this bold move disrupts the duchy, especially when he implies he himself will select a bride for his qualities, ignoring wealth or status. This causes all eligible women to refuse proposals, hoping to be chosen by the Duke, and disrupts the decree's intentions. The…
    • THE SONG-STORY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE Cover
      by LovelyMay She was bathed and rested, then she sought out those herbals that know all manner of enchantments and properties of herbs. With them, she made an ointment and washed herself with it, and her flesh became whiter than it was ever before. She dressed herself nobly in clothes that became her right well, so beautiful she was that she seemed rather an angel than a human being. She went to the palace where Aucassin was, and when he saw her, he recognized her not. "Fair sir," said she, "know ye not me? I am…
    • Chapter

      NOTES

      NOTES Cover
      by LovelyMay "THE BLENDING"--of alternate prose and verse--"is not unknown in various countries." Thus in Dr. Steere's Swahili Tales (London, 1870), p. vii. we read: "It is a constant characteristic of popular native tales to have a sort of burden, which all join in singing. Frequently the skeleton of the story seems to be contained in these snatches of singing, which the story-teller connects by an extemporized account of the intervening history . . . Almost all these stories had sung parts, and of some of these,…
    • Chapter

      II. Immediacy.

      II. Immediacy. Cover
      by LovelyMay A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson This chapter introduces Henri Bergson's philosophy, centering on the concept of duration as its foundational intuition. Bergson's philosophy is distinguished by its emphasis on action and the intuition of time, challenging the traditional static view of existence. The chapter outlines Bergson's critical approach to understanding and evaluating philosophy, not through isolated propositions but through the holistic experience of duration, illuminating its significance by…
    • III. Theory of Perception. Cover
      by LovelyMay Henri Bergson's philosophical work, as summarized from the provided chapter, delves into the relativity of perception and the transformative journey from common experience to profound action. Bergson distinguishes between fact and construction, proposing a series where each term can be seen as fact to the following terms and constructed in relation to preceding ones, aiming for a "contact with pure immediacy." This effort signifies a critical journey from complexity to simplicity in understanding…
    • IV. Critique of Language. Cover
      by LovelyMay Henri Bergson, in "A New Philosophy," presents a complex exploration of perception, matter, and the limitations of conventional thought and language. He delves into the nature of pure perception, which he argues is not merely a subjective experience but rather a direct interaction with reality itself. Bergson suggests that our ordinary perception, limited by our need for practical efficiency, obscures the full depth of reality by favoring a fragmented, simplified view over comprehensive…
    • V. The Problem of Consciousness. Duration and Liberty. Cover
      by LovelyMay In "A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson," the author delves into Bergson's revolutionary thoughts on consciousness, duration, and liberty. The essence of Bergson's philosophy rests on the critique of the conventional understanding of time and consciousness. He argues against the quantification of psychological processes, emphasizing instead the qualitative and continuous nature of consciousness. Bergson criticizes the mechanical psychology of associationism, typified by thinkers like Taine and Stuart Mill, for…
    • VI. The Problem of Evolution:  Life and Matter. Cover
      by LovelyMay The chapter from "A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson" delves into the essentials of perception, the intricacies of consciousness, and the evolutionary philosophy that Bergson proposed. It begins by challenging the traditional notion that perception is housed within the subject, arguing instead for the immediacy of perception as existing within both the subject and object, thereby dismissing the fundamental relativity theses as a mere "trick of speech." Subsequent sections tackle the problem of evolution,…
    • VII. The Problem of Knowledge:  Analysis and Intuition. Cover
      by LovelyMay Henri Bergson, in "A New Philosophy," delves into the essence of evolution, knowledge, intuition, and intelligence, arguing against the static depiction of reason as depicted by Kant and advocating for a dynamic understanding of these concepts rooted in life's creative and evolutionary processes. Bergson criticizes the conventional approach to the theory of knowledge, which relies on analyzing the mind's spontaneous works—like perception and science—from a regressive and critical standpoint, a method…
    • VIII. Conclusion. Cover
      by LovelyMay In the discussed chapter of "A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson," the narrative delves into Bergson's critiques and expansion of the concept of reason, emphasizing two fundamental types of order: geometric and vital. Bergson is portrayed as moving away from a rigid, rationalist understanding of the universe to embrace a more organic, evolutionary perspective. The chapter contrasts the static, predictable pattern of geometric order with the dynamic, creative flux of vital order, arguing that reality…
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