THE BERGSONIAN MIND

Henri Bergson (1859–1941) is widely regarded as one of the most original and important philosophers of the twentieth century. His work explored a rich panoply of subjects including time memory free will and humour and we owe the popular term élan vital to a fundamental insight of Bergson’s. His books provoked responses from some of the leading thinkers and philosophers of his time including Albert Einstein William James and Bertrand Russell and he is acknowledged as a fundamental influence on Marcel Proust. The Bergsonian Mind is an outstanding wide-ranging volume covering the major aspects of Bergson’s thought from his early influences to his continued relevance and legacy. Thirty-six chapters by an international team of leading Bergson scholars are divided into five clear parts:Sources and SceneMind and WorldEthics and PoliticsReceptionBergson and Contemporary Thought.In these sections fundamental topics are examined including time freedom and determinism memory perception evolutionary theory pragmatism and art. Bergson’s impact beyond philosophy is also explored in chapters on Bergson and spiritualism physics biology cinema and post-colonial thought.An indispensable resource for anyone in Philosophy studying and researching Bergson’s work The Bergsonian Mind will also interest those in related disciplines such as Literature Religion Sociology and French Studies.