PODCAST · society

Evolution Creatrice

by Henri Bergson

Creative Evolution (French LÉvolution créatrice) is a groundbreaking 1907 work by French philosopher Henri Bergson. Its English translation followed in 1911, offering a fresh perspective on Darwinian evolution. Bergson introduces the concept of élan vital, or vital impetus, positing that evolution is driven by humanitys inherent creative impulse. This thought-provoking book gained immense popularity in the early twentieth century, prior to the emergence of the Neodarwinian synthesis. Additionally, Bergson explores the notion of time, previously discussed in his earlier writings, which left a lasting impact on modernist thinkers like Marcel Proust. He distinguishes between subjective duration and objective clock time, suggesting that understanding time through creative intuition enriches our experience far beyond mere intellect. - Summary by Wikipedia