Henri Bergson’s philosophy is widely recognized for its profound insights, yet one of its key concepts, the idea of duration, is often misunderstood. Many individuals striving to shape their own philosophy of life may be aware of this concept but do not fully grasp its importance. Understanding duration can greatly influence how we approach and develop our own philosophical perspectives. This article will examine Bergson’s philosophy, shed light on the concept of duration, and explore its significance in the context of personal and philosophical growth.
Key features of Henri Bergson’s philosophy
Henri Bergson’s philosophy centers on exploring the nature of time, consciousness, and creativity. One of his key ideas is the concept of “duration” (la durée), which refers to time as it is experienced subjectively, rather than being measured objectively by clocks. According to Bergson, time is not a series of distinct moments but a continuous flow in which past, present, and future coexist as part of a living experience.
Another central aspect of his thought is the idea of “élan vital,” or the vital force. This concept explains the creative drive that propels life forward, enabling organisms to grow, adapt, and evolve. Bergson saw this force as a source of innovation and transformation in the natural world, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity and creativity over rigid, mechanical explanations of life.
Bergson also drew a distinction between two kinds of knowledge. He referred to one as “intellect,” which helps us analyze, classify, and manipulate the material world, and the other as “intuition,” which allows us to grasp deeper, dynamic realities like time and consciousness. For Bergson, intuition was a necessary tool for understanding the interconnected, fluid nature of life.
Overall, Bergson’s philosophy challenges us to move beyond fixed structures of thought and to engage directly with the living, creative flow of existence, offering a perspective that celebrates life’s complexity and dynamism.
What is duration?
Henri Bergson’s view of duration is centred on the idea of time as a continuous and qualitative experience, distinct from the measurable and segmented time we use in daily life. He argued that traditional concepts of time, such as those represented by clocks or scientific measurements, are artificial and fail to capture the true nature of how humans experience time. For Bergson, duration is not a series of distinct moments but a fluid and indivisible flow of experiences.
He believed that when we live through time, we don’t experience it as separate, isolated units but as an unbroken stream in which moments blend seamlessly into one another. This makes duration intensely personal and subjective, as it is tied to the way consciousness perceives and experiences the passage of time. Bergson also emphasized that duration cannot be fully understood through logical analysis or mathematical reasoning, as it is qualitative rather than quantitative.
Essentially, duration is the lived experience of time as it flows, representing the inner reality of existence. Bergson saw it as the essence of life, where every moment contributes to a dynamic whole rather than existing as discrete points in time. This perspective sets duration apart from the external, measurable view of time we are accustomed to in everyday contexts.
This idea can be demonstrated with the following example. Imagine a melody being played on a piano. Each note in the melody occupies a specific moment in time, yet when we listen to the melody, we don’t simply hear each note in isolation. Instead, we experience it as a continuous and flowing whole, with each note blending seamlessly into the next. The melody cannot be fully understood by breaking it down into separate moments or pieces—it must be felt and appreciated as a unified, dynamic movement. This example reflects how our experience of time is deeply connected to a sense of flow and progression, something that cannot be grasped entirely through static or segmented analysis. It emphasizes how each moment carries forward into the next, creating an inseparable chain that is more than the sum of its parts.
Challenges to Henri Bergson’s view about duration
Some philosophers object to Henri Bergson’s view about duration for various reasons, often rooted in differing perspectives on time, consciousness, and metaphysics. One major critique comes from those who prioritize the measurable and objective nature of time. Philosophers influenced by scientific or logical frameworks argue that time must be quantifiable and universal to serve as a reliable concept. For them, Bergson’s reliance on subjective experience of time might seem overly abstract or even inconsistent, as it resists being aligned with physical or mathematical laws that dominate scientific thinking.
Another common objection arises from the emphasis Bergson places on intuition. His approach often asks individuals to perceive and understand time through a deeply personal, almost ineffable process. Critics find this reliance on intuition problematic because it lacks the clarity and rigorous structure that philosophy often demands. Philosophers like Bertrand Russell, for instance, expressed concerns that Bergson’s ideas did not lend themselves to logic or empirical analysis, thereby making them difficult to test or validate. This lack of empirical grounding leads some to feel that Bergson’s theory ventures too far into subjective speculation, distancing itself from practical utility or philosophical precision.
Analytic philosophers may also critique Bergson’s view for being vague or overly poetic. They argue that his language, while evocative, does not lend itself to precise definitions or arguments, which undermines its philosophical merit. By blending metaphysics with experiential observation, his ideas can appear incompatible with more structured philosophical traditions that rely on clearly articulated premises and conclusions. Such differences highlight a tension between Bergson’s approach and the traditions of analytic or scientifically inclined philosophy.
Lastly, some may reject Bergson’s perspective because it challenges deeply ingrained ways of understanding the world. By undermining traditional concepts of measurable time or clock-like regularity, Bergson forces a rethinking of temporality itself, which some philosophers see as unnecessary or even unproductive. These objections often underscore a broader philosophical divide about how best to approach and make sense of the world.
Why duration is important to Henri Bergson’s philosophy
These are some of the main reasons why grasping the concept of duration is essential to comprehending Henri Bergson’s philosophy.
- Helps Understand the Flow of Time
The idea of duration is important because it offers a fresh way to think about time, not as a series of separate moments, but as a continuous flow. This perspective helps us move away from viewing time as something that can be divided into isolated pieces, like seconds or minutes. Instead, duration suggests that time is an unbroken experience, felt as a whole. This is crucial in understanding how people actually live through time—our experiences are not split into neatly defined segments but are more like a flowing river, where each moment blends into the next. By considering the idea of duration, we gain insight into the way time operates in our lives, revealing it as a more organic and interconnected phenomenon.
- Explains the Depth of Human Experience
Duration is key to exploring the complexity of human experiences because it captures the way our memories and thoughts interact over time. Rather than seeing experiences as isolated or unchanging, the concept of duration sheds light on how moments are always shaped by what came before and what lies ahead. For example, a joyful memory often grows richer over time as we reflect on it, blending past feelings with how we feel now. This insight into the dynamic nature of our experiences goes beyond simple, fixed ideas about time. Duration, therefore, offers a lens to see how a person’s inner life operates as a continuous process that builds and evolves over time.
- Connects to the Creative Process
The idea of duration is also central to understanding creative thought and innovation. Creativity does not happen in a rigid, step-by-step process but emerges from a flow of ideas and feelings that develop over time. Duration helps explain how moments of inspiration and imagination are closely tied to an ongoing process rather than being sudden, isolated events. For instance, an artist might draw on years of lived experience and emotional depth while creating a new piece, bringing together different influences through time. This understanding aligns with the fluid, evolving nature of creativity, showing how time and thought are deeply interconnected.
Contrasting Henri Bergson’s philosophy with Immanuel Kant’s philosophy
Henri Bergson’s concept of duration sets his philosophy apart from Immanuel Kant’s in a fundamental way, particularly in how they view time and human experience. For Kant, time is a form of intuition—one of the innate structures through which humans perceive the world. It is objective, universal, and measurable, forming part of the framework that allows us to make sense of reality. Time, for Kant, is segmented and quantifiable, much like the ticks of a clock or the pages of a calendar.
Bergson, however, challenges this understanding with his idea of duration. Unlike Kant’s objective and structured time, Bergson describes time as a continuous flow of subjective experience that cannot be divided into discrete parts. Duration, in Bergson’s philosophy, is lived and felt—it encapsulates how we truly experience time, not as a series of separate moments but as an unbroken, dynamic process. This distinction illustrates a key divergence between the two thinkers. While Kant emphasizes the intellectual structures that shape perception, Bergson focuses on the immediacy and fluidity of human consciousness.
By emphasizing duration, Bergson moves away from Kant’s mechanistic and abstract conception of time, advocating instead for a more personal and fluid approach. This difference highlights Bergson’s broader critique of rigid, structured frameworks of thought, favoring instead a philosophy that values lived experience and intuition.
Duration, Henri Bergson’s philosophy and the philosophy of life
Reflecting on Henri Bergson’s philosophy and his concept of duration is an enriching exercise when working on developing your own philosophy of life. While it’s not necessary to fully agree with Bergson, engaging with his ideas invites you to explore how you perceive and experience time and how it shapes the way you live. Philosophy at its core is about understanding the human experience and gaining insights into how to live meaningfully, and Bergson’s ideas can serve as a starting point for deep introspection on these matters.
One practical reason why reflecting on Bergson’s views is important is that it encourages you to think critically about the values and priorities that govern your daily decisions. Whether time feels like a set of mechanical clock ticks or a fluid, personal experience unique to each moment can determine how you allocate your focus and energy. Considering these perspectives might draw attention to whether you’re fully present in your life or rushing through it based on external pressures. This kind of reflection can lead to positive shifts in how you approach relationships, work, and personal growth.
Additionally, engaging with Bergson’s philosophy pushes you to question abstract ideas in ways that are deeply personal. It challenges you to examine whether your concept of success, happiness, or fulfillment is influenced by societal constructs of time or your own intrinsic sense of it. This examination can be liberating because it opens the door to a more authentic and individualized philosophy of life, free from the constraints of conventional thinking. It’s about learning to live in a way that feels meaningful to you, rather than adhering to external expectations.
Lastly, reflecting on philosophies like Bergson’s is a reminder that life is not about having all the answers but about asking the right questions. Bergson’s ideas may not provide a step-by-step guide to life, but they prompt you to think deeper about what it means to exist in this world. By grappling with these questions, you’re taking a step toward becoming a more thoughtful, intentional, and self-aware individual. This process of reflection and questioning is invaluable as you shape your personal philosophy and create a vision for the life you want to lead.
Further reading
Bergson, H. (1910). Time and free will: An essay on the immediate data of consciousness (F. L. Pogson, Trans.). George Allen & Unwin. (Original work published 1889)
Bergson, H. (1911). Creative evolution (A. Mitchell, Trans.). Henry Holt and Company.
Capek, M. (1971). Bergson and modern physics: A reinterpretation and re-evaluation. D. Reidel.
Durie, R. (Ed.). (2012). Gilles Deleuze and the problem of space. Edinburgh University Press.
Guerlac, S. (2006). Thinking in time: An introduction to Henri Bergson. Cornell University Press.
James, W. (1909). A pluralistic universe. Longmans, Green, and Co.
Lefebvre, H. (2004). Rhythmanalysis: Space, time and everyday life (S. Elden & G. Moore, Trans.). Continuum.
Mullarkey, J. (1999). Bergson and philosophy. Edinburgh University Press.
Deleuze, G. (1988). Bergsonism (H. Tomlinson & B. Habberjam, Trans.). Zone Books.
Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). Phenomenology of perception (C. Smith, Trans.). Routledge & Kegan Paul.