Temporal Nature of Philosophy and the Concept of Duration in the Philosophical Method of Henri Bergson

Abstract

This article explores the temporal nature of philosophy and the concept of duration (durée) in Henri Bergson's (1859–1941) philosophical methodology. The aim is to examine how time, particularly the concept of duration, is present in Bergson's philosophical approach and his understanding of the nature of philosophy itself. The analysis primarily relies on Bergson's works, including Creative Mind (1934), Mind-Energy (1920), and his 1916 speech delivered at the student residence in Madrid , while utilizing the definition of duration found in Time and Free Will and Duration and Simultaneity. The focus is on the role of duration in Bergson's methodology and the resulting implications for the nature of philosophy. I will exemplify the practical application of the concept of duration with examples especially from Creative Evolution.