Myth, Insects, and Surrealism: the Influence of Henri Bergson on the Writings of Roger Caillois

Abstract

The focus of this text is the influence of Henri Bergson’s ideas concerning instinct, intelligence and myth on the work of Roger Caillois. My aim is to offer a reading of intellectual history which draws Bergson back into the orbit of the French avant-garde in the 1930s. In doing so, I highlight the axiomatic presence of Bergson’s ideas on Caillois’ work, which can be described as the combining of contemporary philosophical, cultural, and social science studies with the surrealist method, most notably exemplified by the unlikely juxtaposition of the study of relations between insect behaviour and the myth-making function in humans. While the historical reception of Bergson’s ideas has largely mapped the waning of his influence in the inter-war period, I wish to present one strong case in which Bergson’s thought continued to have formative influence. It is largely assumed in studies of surrealism that Bergson had been entirely rejected by the movement for political reasons, I argue that Bergson’s ideas were in fact central to Caillois’ writings on insects and society. As well as highlighting the Bergsonian core of some of Caillois’ key works as a member of the surrealist group and the College of Sociology, I propose that the presence of Bergson’s ideas within this radical milieu contributes to the ongoing discussion of the philosopher’s influence and legacy.