The Essential Works of Henri Bergson (eBook)

Henri Bergson (1859-1941) was a French philosopher known for his influential contributions to the understanding of time and consciousness. Bergson's philosophical approach diverged from the analytic tradition, favoring intuition over rationalism and tackling problems related to the human experience of time, free will, and the nature of life and consciousness. His work had a significant impact on both continental philosophy and the development of existentialism. In his seminal work, 'Time and Free Will' (1889), Bergson discussed the concept of duration, a continuous flow of time experienced subjectively by the individual, contrasting it with the quantitative and divisible time of science. In 'Matter and Memory' (1896), he explored the relationship between the body and the mind, emphasizing the role of memory in perception. Another key work, 'Creative Evolution' (1907), presented his revolutionary ideas on evolution as a dynamic and unpredictable process rather than a mechanistic one. 'The Creative Mind: An Introduction to Metaphysics' (1934), part of 'The Essential Works of Henri Bergson', offered insights into his mature thoughts on creativity, intuition, and metaphysical inquiry. Bergson's literary style is characterized by a rich and evocative prose that aims not merely to convince analytically, but to lead the reader to acknowledge the immediate data of consciousness. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, not only for his rich and thought-provoking philosophical texts but also for the artistic flair with which he conveyed them. His work continues to be a pivotal reference point for philosophers and scholars interested in questions of time, consciousness, and the metaphysics of life.