French philosopher awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize for literature. ALS in French, signed “H. Bergson,” six pages on two sets of adjoining sheets, 5 x 6.5, July 29, 1914. Letter to Bergson scholar and Professor of Political Science at Columbia University. In part (translated): “I'm writing you immediately because I fear I may be prevented from doing so later: circumstances are really very grave; rumors of war are circulating; I may have to leave Switzerland abruptly at any moment and return precipitously to Paris. But I want to thank you right now for having devoted such a complete, in-depth study to me. It seems to me that you know by heart everything I've written since you quote from me so naturally and you make such ingenious connections between the different passages of my works. And it seems to me that you are thoroughly immersed in the spirit of the doctrine! This means that you constantly remain faithful to my thought, notwithstanding your very personal style of expression. Your exposition is excellent. I would approve, for the very most part, the conclusions you draw from my thought relative to Ethics. You clearly perceive the direction to which I will commit myself when the time comes for me to treat these questions in an explicit manner. Although my conclusions are of the same nature as yours, they will probably be more complicated. As I've already indicated in l'Evolution Creatrice [Creative Evolution] I see humanity torn between two conflicting tendencies—one tending toward the development of individuality, the other toward social cohesion. All the difficulties of theoretical and practical morality proceed from that; and that is why I won't be able to formulate definite conclusions until I've finished a certain number of historical, economic, and social studies that I started several years ago. But, once again, even though my conclusions will undoubtedly be more complex that yours, they will not contradict them and their inspiration will be analogous to yours.” In fine condition, with a bit of scattered light soiling. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. RRAuction COA.
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