Definition

Proper noun A French philosopher known for his influential theories on time, consciousness, and creative evolution. He argued for a vitalistic principle (élan vital) as the driving force behind biological evolution and development, contrasting mechanistic and purely materialistic explanations.

Usage

This word is used exclusively as a proper noun to refer to the philosopher Henri Bergson or his body of work. * His ideas on time were heavily influenced by Bergson. * The lecture focused on Bergson's concept of duration (durée). * She is writing a thesis on the philosophy of Bergson.

Advanced Usage

• Bergsonian (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of Bergson's philosophy.
  • The novel has a distinctly Bergsonian treatment of memory and time.
• The term is central to discussions in metaphysics, the philosophy of time, and process philosophy.

Variants and Related Words

• Bergsonian (adj.): Of or relating to Henri Bergson or his philosophical doctrines.
• Élan vital (n.): A key Bergsonian term meaning "vital impulse" or "vital force," proposed as the creative principle in nature.

Synonyms

• Henri Bergson
• The philosopher Bergson

Related Terms and Concepts

• Duration (Durée): Bergson's concept of time as a continuous, qualitative flow of conscious experience, distinct from measured, quantitative clock time.
• Intuition: For Bergson, the primary method of philosophical knowledge, a sympathetic understanding distinct from analytical intellect.
• Creative Evolution: The title of his 1907 book and his theory that evolution is a creative, not merely mechanistic, process driven by the .

Noun

1. French philosopher who proposed elan vital as the cause of evolution and development (1859-1941)