page_0001

private

4, CARLTON GARDENS,
PALL MALL,
S.W.

ay 2nd3rd, 1913.

My dear Mr Buchan

You are quite right about the suggestiveness of
Poincaré's work. I have not yet read all the volumes
you mention, but I have read some of them, and with
the greatest admiration and interest.

Do you think you are right in supposing British
thinkers to be ignorant of his work, or indifferent
to it? You compare his reputation to Bergson's;
but you must remember that Poincaré, though the most
philosophic of physicists, is not a philosopher in
the sense that Bergson is. He does not pretend, so
far as I know, to go outside the region of Natural
Science. It is true that he treats this in a thor-
-oughly philosophic fashion; but the number of
people who are interested in this department of
philosophic thought is limited. Moreover, Poincaré,
like all good philosophers, asks more questions than
he answers. This annoys the physicists, and yet gives
no great pleasure to the metaphysicians!