Bergson, Memory, Spirit

In Matter and Memory, Bergson studies the interaction of Matter and Memory in lived experience, as part of his development of a theory of the relation between Spirit and Matter. Accordingly, in contrast with the intricacy of his examination of the Memory-Matter relation, that Memory is an instance of Spirit seems almost taken for granted. Bergson thus seems to overlook a problematic consequence of that latter assumption. Every memory begins as a perception, and, while Bergson's definition of Perception tends to vacillate, all its varieties entail a Material component. In other words, Memory originates as at least partially Matter, a process which, therefore, demonstrates that Spirit can originate in Matter, which is contrary to a main thesis of Creative Evolution. So, once again, Bergson's commitment to a speculative doctrine such as Spiritualism seems to complicate the results of his methodical direct examinations.