Time and Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness

Name: Time and Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness
Author: Henri Bergson

By Henri Bergson

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Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

The work analyzes consciousness by distinguishing lived duration from the abstract, measurable time of science, arguing that inner life unfolds as a qualitative, indivisible flow that intellect habitually spatializes and fragments. It examines how sensations, memories, and efforts resist simple quantitative comparison, critiques attempts to reduce intensity to extensity, and challenges mechanistic accounts of causation when applied to mental phenomena. Emphasizing intuition as the method suited to grasping duration, the argument culminates in a reconception of freedom as grounded in the continuous, creative character of consciousness rather than in deterministic chains describable by external measurement.

About the Author

Henri Bergson

Henri Bergson (1859-1941) was a French philosopher renowned for his influential ideas on time, consciousness, and evolution. His work is characterized by a unique blend of philosophical inquiry and scientific thought, challenging the mechanistic views of his time. Bergson's notable works include "Creative Evolution," where he explores the concept of life as a dynamic process, and "Time and Free Will," which examines the nature of human consciousness and perception of time. His philosophical contributions have had a lasting impact on various fields, including psychology, literature, and the arts, making him a pivotal figure in the development of modern thought.