French philosopher Henri-Louis Bergson (1859-1941) was influential in the tradition of continental philosophy, especially during the first half of the 20th century until the Second World War. Bergson is known for his arguments that processes of immediate experience and intuition are more significant than abstract rationalism and science for understanding reality.

 

He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize of Literature “in recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented.” In 1930, France awarded him the Grand-Croix de la Legion d’honneur.