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Matter and Memory
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<p><i>Matter and Memory</i> (French: <i>Matière et mémoire</i>, 1896) is a book by the French <a href="/facts/Philosopher/Hyvzc54m">philosopher</a> <a href="/facts/Henri_Bergson/CortzHrD">Henri Bergson</a>. Its subtitle is <i>Essay on the relation of body and spirit</i> (<i>Essai sur la relation du corps à l’esprit</i>), and the work presents an analysis of the classical philosophical <a href="/facts/Mind-body_problem/86RGUgIK">problems concerning this relation</a>. Within that frame, the analysis of memory serves the purpose of clarifying the problem. </p><p><i>Matter and Memory</i> was written in reaction to the book <i>The Maladies of Memory</i> by <a href="/facts/Th%25C3%25A9odule-Armand_Ribot/T8BHl6Ks">Théodule Ribot</a>, which appeared in 1881. Ribot claimed that the findings of brain science proved that memory is lodged within a particular part of the nervous system; localized within the brain and thus being of a material nature. Bergson was opposed to this reduction of spirit to matter. Defending a clear anti-reductionist position, he considered memory to be of a deeply spiritual nature, the brain serving the need of orienting present action by inserting relevant memories. The brain thus being of a practical nature, certain lesions tend to perturb this practical function, but without erasing memory as such. The memories are, instead, simply not 'incarnated,' and cannot serve their purpose. </p>