Bergson refers to Henri Bergson, a prominent French philosopher and leading figure in the field of metaphysics and philosophy of time during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bergson's philosophical ideas greatly influenced various disciplines, including philosophy, literature, psychology, and biology.
His main contribution to philosophy lies in his concept of "duration" or "la durée," which posits that time is not merely a series of distinct, separate moments, but rather a continuous flow of lived experience. Bergson argued that true understanding of reality requires an intuitive grasp of this duration, which cannot be fully captured by spatial and quantitative methods of measurement.
Bergson's ideas challenged traditional philosophical frameworks, such as rationalism and materialism, by emphasizing the importance of subjective consciousness and lived experience. He believed that intuition and the creative aspects of human thought were fundamental to comprehending reality beyond the limitations of measurable scientific knowledge.
Furthermore, Bergson rejected the idea that time can be reduced to mathematical descriptions, advocating for a more holistic approach that recognizes the dynamic and fluid nature of existence. He proposed that true understanding necessitates engaging with the ever-changing and evolving nature of life, rather than seeking fixed and static truths.
Overall, Bergson's philosophical contributions revolved around the exploration of time, consciousness, and reality in an attempt to bridge the gap between science and subjective experience. His insights continue to be influential and provide a different perspective on the nature of existence.
