Bergson, human rights, and joy

Alexandre Lefebvre

pp. 201-223

in: Continental Philosophy Review 50 (2), 2017.

Abstract

This article examines Henri Bergson's conception of human rights in The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932). I claim that he provides an original view of human rights. Rather than understand human rights primarily as an institution to protect all human beings from serious social, legal, and political abuse, Bergson conceives of them as a medium of personal transformation. In particular, I argue that for him the true potential of human rights is to initiate all human beings into a way of life open to love and joy.

Cited authors

Bergson Henri