The Two Sources of Morality and Religion - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (Les Deux Sources de la Morale et de la Religion), published in 1932, represents Henri Bergson's final major philosophical work and stands as a pivotal exploration of moral philosophy and religious experience. This masterwork, emerging from the distinguished French philosopher's lifetime of intellectual inquiry, presents a sophisticated analysis of human social and spiritual development through the lens of his characteristic emphasis on intuition and élan vital.
The text emerged during a particularly turbulent period in European history, between the two World Wars, when traditional moral and religious frameworks were being fundamentally questioned. Bergson, having already established himself as a leading philosopher through works such as Creative Evolution (1907), brought his mature philosophical perspective to bear on the pressing questions of social cohesion, moral obligation, and religious experience. The work's publication coincided with growing political tensions in Europe, lending additional weight to its examination of closed versus open societies and their corresponding moral systems.
At its core, the work introduces a revolutionary distinction between two sources of morality and religion: the "closed" and the "open." The closed source, rooted in social pressure and biological necessity, manifests in static religion and closed morality focused on group survival. In contrast, the open source, characterized by mystical inspiration and creative emotion, gives rise to dynamic religion and open morality that transcends tribal boundaries. This dichotomy proved influential in subsequent social theory, notably influencing Karl Popper's The Open Society and Its Enemies.
The legacy of The Two Sources continues to resonate in contemporary discussions of social justice, religious pluralism, and moral philosophy. Bergson's insights into the tension between social cohesion and moral progress remain remarkably relevant to modern debates about globalization, nationalism, and religious tolerance. His exploration of mystical experience as a source of moral innovation has influenced both philosophical and religious studies, while his analysis of the relationship between religion and morality continues to inform interdisciplinary discussions in sociology, anthropology, and ethics. The work stands as a testament to Bergson's ability to bridge the gap between rationalist and mystical approaches to understanding human moral and religious experience, challenging readers to reconsider the foundations of social order and spiritual life.