The Origins of George Bernard Shaw's Life Force Philosophy

This book examines George Bernard Shaw’s Life Force philosophy and its use and development in selected plays. The book notes the background and sources which were major influencing factors in its development. The book points out the philosophical ideas and concepts of seven philosophers and scientists whose ideas later appeared in the Shavian concept of Creative Evolution. George Bernard Shaw selected many ideas from other philosophers in the process of creating his own eclectic philosophy. Because there are varying opinions as to the specific origins of the Life Force philosophy, this study is designed to explore certain specific origins and sources of biologic evolution which led to Shaw’s philosophy. Several philosophical and scientific concepts are examined and analyzed in their relationships to Creative Evolution and the Life Force. The Life Force concept of George Bernard Shaw contains the central idea that Life is a vital force or impulse that strives to attain greater power of contemplation and self-realization. Creative Evolution is the manner in which the Life Force strives to reach this perfect state of contemplation as it continually creates something better and greater beyond the life forms already developed. The Superman is a symbol of the superior race of men that will evolve in the future. Primary sources include selected plays, letters, articles, and essays written by George Bernard Shaw. Shaw’s Life Force concept was never accepted during his life nor is it generally accepted today. Yet his theory of the Life Force is an interesting philosophical idea, particularly in the way Shaw uses it as the main theme for important plays.