Philosopher's Zone Henri Bergson, philosopher of past and future
Apr 23, 2025
Emily Herring, an English writer based in Paris and author of a biography on Henri Bergson, delves into the philosopher's lasting impact. They discuss Bergson's iconic status 100 years ago, his appeal to women, and how his thoughts on technology and identity foreshadow today’s anxieties about AI. The conversation highlights the fluidity of time and consciousness, linking these ideas to feminist movements and exploring translation challenges in his works. Finally, they reflect on the rapid decline of his influence post-World War I.
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Bergson's Concept of Time
- Bergson argues time as measured by science is a frozen snapshot, not lived experience.
- He calls true experiential time "duration," emphasizing qualitative flow over quantitative measurement.
Consciousness is Temporal Flow
- Bergson says consciousness and time are intertwined; consciousness itself is duration.
- He rejects clear before-and-after demarcations, seeing experience as a snowball accumulating over time.
True Intuition Transcends Concepts
- Bergson’s "intuition" means rigorous insight beyond conceptual thought, not mere gut feeling.
- It requires undoing ingrained habits of analyzing by effortfully transcending fixed mental frameworks.
