Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Henri Bergson, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 8299 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
"In recent years, we have grown accustomed to philosophical language that is intensely self-conscious and rhetorically thick, often tragic in tone. It is enlivening to read Bergson, who exerts so little rhetorical pressure while exacting such a substantial effort of thought. . . . Bergson's texts teach the reader to let go of entrenched intellectual habits and to begin to think differently—to think in time. . . . Too much and too little have been said about Bergson. Too much, because of the various appropriations of his thought. Too little, because the work itself has not been carefully studied in recent decades."—from Thinking in Time

Henri Bergson (1859-1941), whose philosophical works emphasized motion, time, and change, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1927. His work remains influential, particularly in the realms of philosophy, cultural studies, and new media studies. In Thinking in Time, Suzanne Guerlac provides readers with the conceptual and contextual tools necessary for informed appreciation of Bergson's work.

Guerlac's straightforward philosophical expositions of two Bergson texts, Time and Free Will (1888) and Matter and Memory (1896), focus on the notions of duration and memory—concepts that are central to the philosopher's work. Thinking in Time makes plain that it is well worth learning how to read Bergson effectively: his era and our own share important concerns. Bergson's insistence on the opposition between the automatic and the voluntary and his engagement with the notions of "the living," affect, and embodiment are especially germane to discussions of electronic culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Read the original(s)
A introductory book on the philosophy of Bergson, which ends with two (short) chapters discussing the recent "return to Bergson." Guerlac's monograph reads as though it were rather hastily put together, as though she ran out of time to properly develop the material.
An example: chapter 5 (Channels of Contemporary Reception) is a particularly useful subject and the chapter begins well, but it swiftly descends to uselessness, stitched together by a series of quotes and paraphrases from various theorists, as well as endless footnotes which include further quotes and paraphrases (there are 97 footnotes for a chapter 23 pages long). (It doesn't help either that Guerlac moves much too quickly through the Bergsonian influence on Deleuze's Cinema books - relying, it seems to me, too heavily on Mark Hansen's commentary - as well as Deleuze and Guattari's concept of "the machinic.")
Worse is the treatment of Bergson's texts, but for a different reason. The majority of Guerlac's book is an explication of two Bergson works: Time and Free Will and Matter and Memory. (Why Creative Evolution is not given the same treatment is a mystery to me.) Having just re-read Matter and Memory, I have to say that I found Guerlac's chapter on this great work completely without point: she simply repeats his argument but in her own words (except when she is directly quoting the original). Why not read the original instead, which is exquisitely written and endlessly fascinating?
The purpose of such an introductory work should be to clarify and contextualize; to give a student some footholds as they explore the difficult (but richly rewarding) original texts. What is the purpose of a 67-page paraphrase of Matter and Memory except to discourage the student from reading the original (by having the student believe they have somehow already done so - and not by reading the 200 page original but the 67 page copy)?
The book is not without some merit, but it needed several more rewrites and some judicious pruning. (And instead of 2 LONG chapters on Bergson's first two philosophical texts, it should have had 4 shorter chapters on ALL of his major philosophical works: Time and Free Will, Matter and Memory, Creative Evolution, and Two Sources of Morality and Religion.)
I'd give the book 2 1/2 stars, if it were possible, but since it is not I will go for the lower rating, because it is closer to 2 stars than 3. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lucid, informative assessment of an influentical philosopher
Henri Bergson was an influential philosopher claimed by the French as anearly phenomenologist, and in American and Britain as a vitalistphilosopher. Bergson And Philosophy is an introductory study of his use ofphilosophical form and dispels the view that Bergson ever stuck to one typeof philosophy at all, either vitalism or phenomenology. Rather, aBergsonian idea of "metaphilosophy" stating that, in a universewith no static foundations, there can never e a philosophy means that ifeverything is changing, then change is also a constant truth of philosophy.John Mullarkey is a teacher of philosophy at the University of Sudnerlandwho explores each of Bergson's seven major works from a metaphilosophicalperspective. Highly recommended for personal, professional, and academicphilosophy collections, Bergson And Philosophy showcases an important andlucid reassessment of an influential philosopher while setting his work inan appropriate philosophical context. ... Read more

Book Description
Kolakowski shows how Henri Bergson sought to reconcile Darwin's theory with his own beliefs about the nature of the universe. Bergson believed that time could be thought of in two different ways: as an abstract measuring device used for practical purposes, or as durée, the "real" time we actually experience. He also held that all matter is propelled by an internal élan vital, or life-drive, and that the life of the universe is constantly creative and unpredictable. On the basis of these ideas he constructed a system of thought that embraced his views on memory, matter, consciousness, movement, religious morality, and the nature of laughter. His pantheistic and dynamic vision of the universe, which emerged at a time of crisis in Western intellectual life, was symptomatic of the struggle between a rigid scientific determinism and the Christian tradition of a divine creation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good introduction to a highly creative thinker
Bergson was an admirable figure in many ways. He was at one time the star of European and world- philosophy but the star has dimmed with the years. He was born Jewish but was a convert to Catholicism. When the Nazis ordered the Jews of Paris to line up to receive the yellow- star Bergson( who could have been exempted by his Catholicism and his fame)got out into the street with his fellow Jews. He stood in the cold for hours.Old and unwell he died shortly thereafter.
His philosophy was a philosophy whose emphasis was on ' lived experience,' on the time of 'duree'' on the inner sense we have in being alive .For him as for his American correspondent William James life was a creative stream. And newness and innovation came naturally with it. It was almost as if for him creation ex nihilo occurred in every instant. He opposed in his thought mechanical thinking, rigid determinism.
I myself have always found grasping his thought very difficult, and this is still true despite Kolakowski's excellent work. I do however believe many of the themes of his thought, and especially those related to the inherent creative quality of humanity are ones which are true and deserve a lasting place in our understanding and definition of ourselves and the world. ... Read more

Book Description
This is a book about the philosophy of Henri Bergson (1859-1941) that shows how relevant Bergson is to much of contemporary philosophy.The book takes as its point of departure Bergson's insistence on precision in philosophy.It then discusses a variety of topics including laughter, the nature of time as experienced, how intelligence and language should be construed as a pragmatic product of evolution, and the antimonies of reason represented by magic and religion. Written in a terse and clear style, this book will prove appealing to teachers and students of philosophy, cognitive science, psychology, religious studies and literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Key points of Bergson's philosophy.
This book by F.C.T. Moore provides a valid and worth while engagment of the philosophy of one of France's most important philosophers. Bergson's theories of space and time "Duree", were vital in Futurist thinking and provided a grounding for their initial, and some may argue best work. F.C.T Moore presents Bergsons philosophy in a practical and systematic manner, easily understood and comperhensive. This is a good book. ... Read more

Book Description
The modernist movement has been regarded as representing a crisis point in Western thought. This volume looks at that crisis in terms of its reinterpretation of ideas concerning vitalism: the animation of the universe, whether spiritual or based in physical energies) of the universe. Beginning with vitalism's historical background in the enlightenment and the nineteenth century, and moving through scientific, philosophical and literary disciplines, the contributors chart the progress of vitalism and its influence on modernist thought. The focal point is the work of Henri Bergson, whose part in this powerful reinterpretation had a considerable bearing on European and American intellectual life, and yet led to a vehement rejection of his work. A previously untranslated and little-known essay by Bakhtin will be of special interest in this stimulating collection, which includes original contributions from leading scholars in literature, the history of science, biology and philosophy, and comprises a wide-ranging reassessment of 'the perpetual crises of modernity'. The modernist movement has been regarded as representing a crisis point in Western thought. This volume looks at that crisis in terms of its reinterpretation of ideas concerning vitalism: the animation of the universe, whether spiritual or based in physical energies) of the universe. Beginning with vitalism's historical background in the enlightenment and the nineteenth century, and moving through scientific, philosophical and literary disciplines, the contributors chart the progress of vitalism and its influence on modernist thought. The focal point is the work of Henri Bergson, whose part in this powerful reinterpretation had a considerable bearing on European and American intellectual life, and yet led to a vehement rejection of his work. A previously untranslated and little-known essay by Bakhtin will be of special interest in this stimulating collection, which includes original contributions from leading scholars in literature, the history of science, biology and philosophy, and comprises a wide-ranging reassessment of 'the perpetual crises of modernity'. ... Read more

Book Description
Published in 1913 as La Philosophie Bergsonienne, thisincisive critique of the thought of Henri Bergson was Jacques Maritain's(1882-1973) first book. In it he shows himself already to have anauthoritative grasp of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas and an uncannyability to demonstrate its relevance to alternative philosophical systemssuch as that of Henri Bergson. Volume 1 in the series The CollectedWorks of Jacques Maritain, this edition faithfully reproduces the 1955translation published by the Philosophical Library.

It would be difficult to overestimate Bergson's role in extricatingFrench philosophy from the deadening materialism that dominated theSorbonne. It was that cultural milieu that brought Maritain and his wifeRaïssa to the brink of suicide. They drew back for two major reasons.First were the lectures of Henri Bergson at the Collège de France, inwhich the Maritains found a defense of metaphysics, of the transcendentbeyond the material, within which they could find meaning in life. Thesecond reason was their conversion to Catholicism, a move they and many oftheir contemporaries made after being introduced to Bergson's work.

Soon after his conversion, Jacques Maritain immersed himself in thethought of Thomas Aquinas and was struck by the comparative weaknesses ofBergson. This book is Maritain's relentless criticism of the philosophy ofthe man whose lectures had meant so much to him. Its ferocity marks it as ayoung man's book, written in part to exorcize the defects of Bergson'sphilosophy as they were understood by one now schooled in Thomism.Twenty-five years later, Maritain, while not retracting his criticisms,regretted their intemperance and, as a result, moderated his assessment ofBergson in a long preface to the second edition. In it, we find aphilosopher who mastered his craft and a critic of rare perception andrefinement. ... Read more

Book Description
A rich and comprehensive study which brings many of the leading principles of Bergson's philosophy to bear on recent French literature. ... Read more

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This book is available either individually, or as part of the specially-priced Arguments of the Philosphers Collection. ... Read more

Book Description
In this analysis of one major philosopher by another, Gilles Deleuze identifies three pivotal concepts - duration, memory, and élan vital - that are found throughout Bergson's writings and shows the relevance of Bergson's work to contemporary philosophical debates. He interprets and integrates these themes into a single philosophical program, arguing that Bergson's philosophical intentions are methodological. They are more than a polemic against the limitations of science and common sense, particularly in Bergson's elaboration of the explanatory powers of the notion of duration - thinking in terms of time rather than space. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

good overview
Deleuze does an admirable job interpreting and summarizing the works of Henri Bergson. This is no substitute for reading Bergson's writings, but it is a good place to begin.

Insightful into Bergson, but it's really Bergson-Deleuze
In this book, Gilles Deleuze analyzes and supplements the work of philosopher Henri Bergson. The importance of this book lies in its ability to give insights not only into the work of Bergson but also into the later work of Deleuze.

For example, the first chapter of this book deals with Bergson's method of intuition. Interestingly enough, Deleuze applies this method to Bergson's own philosophy. In very basic terms, this method involves distinguishing "differences in kind" between elements (this is important, since Bergson believes that we usually go by false generalizations) and then bring together these elements once again but such that we understand them as they truly are and not as what Deleuze calls a "badly analyzed composite". In analyzing Bergson's philosophy, Deleuze distinguishes elan vital, duration, and memomory as the basic concepts. Furthermore, each of these concepts can only be understood in terms of intuition for various reasons; for example, that only intuition can grasp pure movement (duration). Throughout this book, Deleuze usually (although not always) gives an account of Bergson's concepts without assuming complete knowledge on the part of the reader, which is helpful. However, on the other hand, Deleuze doesn't always tell us what is "his" philosophy and what is Bergson's. Because of this, "Bergsonism" should not be utilized as a summary of Bergson's work. That is, even though Deleuze is clear enough for someone with little background in Bergson to understand much of this book, this does not mean that this person would then "know Bergson" but rather a Bergson-Deleuzian hybrid. This isn't a flaw to the book; rather, it merely suggests how it ought to be read. This short book is complex, but very well written by Deleuze, allowing for a maximum amount of information to be intelligibly conveyed in relatively few pages (although this isn't necessarily true of his later work); it moves at a brisk pace without losing the reader and is reccomended for both readers of Bergson and Deleuze.

An Important Book on Bergson and Deleuze
This book is about Bergsonfs notions (especially matter and memory), but constitutes Deleuzefs view of the world because of his own interpretation of Bergson. At first, Deleuze mentions to this bookfs aim which is todetermine the relationship between the three notions, duration, memory, andelan vital in Bergsonfs philosophy. Then, he considers intuition inBergson which would be a method to achieve the aim. He sets five rules onintuition and probes the relationship between the three notions. Finally,he relates them in the process of differentiation. This notion ofgdifferentiationh is very important in Deleuzefs philosophy, which isclear in his other books. Moreover, this book contains some interestingdiscussions such as criticism to Einsteinfs theory and to evolutionism. Ithink that this book is important to understand Deleuzefs philosophy andthat it must be a very helpful guide to read his gCinema 1: TheMovement-Imageh and gCinema 2: The Time-Imageh. ... Read more