(1859-1941) French philosopher; professor at College de France; wrote 1. Introduction to Metaphysics ; 2. Bewusstseinstheologie ; 3. Creative Evolution ; and 4. The Two Sources of Morality and Religion . Pragmatic vitalism;
vital impetus (élan vital) in all creatures esp. mankind seen in morality and religion; taught creative or emergent evolution where the élan vital within matter develops
reality to new ends. See Bergsonianism