Henri Bergson: Een biografie

by Emily Herring

Aan het begin van de twintigste eeuw was Henri Bergson (1859–1941) de beroemdste filosoof ter wereld. Zijn colleges werden drukbezocht, hij speelde in diplomatieke rol in WO I, ontving de Nobelprijs voor Literatuur, maar ging ook gebukt onder zware persoonlijke omstandigheden.


Emily Herring beschrijft zijn veelbewogen leven en laat zien dat zijn denken over bewustzijn, tijd en intuïtie verrassend actueel is. Een fascinerend portret van een uniek intellect.


Vier sterren in het NRC.


'Emily Herring verstaat de kunst om een biografie om te vormen tot een soort roman waar je zelf deel van gaat uitmaken.' –Katholiek Nieuwsblad


'Herring schrijft toegankelijk en geeft een fascinerende karakterschets van een uniek denker.' – Opera Nederland

Genres: Philosophy, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, France, 19th Century

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Jonfaith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like an artist who is able to show us what we have not yet been able to perceive, Bergson was able to give form to the confused and all-consuming feelings of a generation.

This was a Christmas present from Joel and I appreciated the opportunity. I likely wouldn’t have pursued it otherwise. It is less a biography of Bergson or an examination of his thoughts than a quick appraisal of his reception historically and how perhaps his liberal opposition to mechanized systems especially in philosophical terms, how all of this makes him timely during these uncertain times. There are very quick glosses on his concepts, duree and elan vital. Not much is made of the relationship between both of these with German Idealism or even Cartesian duality for that matter (sorry for the pun).

I thought a project focusing on the friendship between Bergson and William James would have been infinitely more interesting but alas. The author cites the relationship between Bergson and Proust but doesn’t delineate the consequences nor really is the debate with Einstein. Bergson has become a shallow kit bag of ideas. Deleuze’s approach to him appeared arrogant in that regard. I think a cross examination of Bergson and Darwin could be exciting.

[Celine Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herring is such a great writer—she narrates Bergson’s life so deftly, and creates a great deal of narrative drama and tension to keep you reading. (I finished the book in a day, while sick in bed.) Bergson comes across as a genuine celebrity—and it’s kind of amazing that, in Belle Époque France, a philosopher could fill lecture halls (with women from all class positions, too!) and cause traffic jams when he visited NYC for a lecture series.

I was also impressed by how eloquently Herring explains key concepts in philosophy, and why Bergson’s work was so influential. It’s just really good nonfiction writing and so clear (and beautiful) to read.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herring has produced that rarest of things: a philosophical biography that's a page turner. Bergson, as she points out, has been criminally overlooked in anglophone philosophy since his death. This book, I think, will do much to re-introduce him.

[Luke McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

[Logan Kedzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biography of Henri Bergson, a Nobel-winning French philosopher with a rock star-like status, down to the crowds of swooning women and mingling with other intellectual greats like Proust (they were cousins), Shaw, and James; a famous debate with Einstein, and the enmity of Bernard Russell, who would become as dramatically forgotten in the interbellum years, all without seeming to affect his own demeanor on things much.

Bergson's philosophical role is hard to place. His philosophical projects are wide and varied, and while often called anti-science it was an allegation that he protested throughout his life. He was concerned with perception and its understanding of the world in a way that rankled scientists, even if it looks like more a case of them talking past one another, and he brought up a much more constructive view of the evolutionary process than became fashionable as the century progressed.

Explaining the why of Bergson was my hope and fear of the book. There is no great why to explain what happened to and with him. I have thoughts, but I think that they are speculative. But at the same time I wanted a novel and comprehensive explanation as to what happened with him, or some sort of pitch as to why he was the most significant thinker of the century, I, er, also did not. There is enough clickbait-titled books out there trying to oversell the importance of something or someone to move product through either identity or audacity.

Here, the author points to some of his lines of philosophical and aesthetic influence, and offers a few speculations, but is content to be much more about the biography and providing an introduction into his admittedly big ideas. There is examination of how the book's subtitle plays out in Bergson's life, which I like because it is as much about the way his popularity is understood, and the unfortunately misogynistic or antisemitic turns there. But overall, it is a book that sets out to be an introduction, does so effectively, and wrangles some big ideas into manageable form in the process.

[Glenn Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

My undergraduate degree was in Philosophy. While I was familiar with Bergson’s name, I don’t recall any of his ideas being taught while I was at university. Yet, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says he “…was one of the most famous and influential French philosophers of the late 19th century-early 20th century. It also says that “Many philosophers today think that [his] concept of multiplicity, despite its difficulty, is revolutionary. It is revolutionary because it opens the way to a reconception of community.” (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/be...)

I am now slightly more than one-half of the way finished with "Herald of a Restless World", so I will continue to add to this review as I progress in my reading. However, I don't want to delay getting some of my very positive impressions here. I don’t expect to change my overall rating.

Dr. Herring’s writing engages one’s interest even when she describe abstruse topics. Her style is clear and flowing. Take for example her summary on pages 13 through 15 of what she calls “Our Obsession with Eternity”. This is a masterfully-written summary of the ideas of those philosophers who thought the proper way to describe the world is to pay attention to those things that don’t change (for example, Plato’s Ideas). This is a model of lucid and economic use of the English language!

I'm excited to finish this book, and hope to do so this coming weekend.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never has there been a book that so thoroughly and repeatedly discussed the enormity of a forehead.

It was also very well written and made what would normally be a dull topic for me a nearly James Bond-esque level of intriguing and entertaining. Though I consider that secondary to the forehead commentary.

[Nat]

My favorite parts of this were those that described the elite French education—that world is fascinating. I know some French philosophers trained at the ENS who know (or have on their CV) what rank they were in the results of the Agrégation.

But the main takeaway from this biography is: DO NOT MESS WITH BERTRAND RUSSELL. He will erase you from the history of philosophy.

[Yashar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book offers an insightful exploration of Henri Bergson’s life and philosophy, presenting a vivid portrait of a thinker who once captivated the world. The author skillfully weaves Bergson's intellectual contributions with his time's social and cultural context, showing how his ideas resonated in an era of rapid technological and social change.

The book is clear and accessible without oversimplifying. It delves into Bergson’s public debates with figures like Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein. It also makes a strong case for the continued relevance of Bergson’s ideas to modern issues despite his decline in prominence after WWII. This work is valuable for those interested in philosophy, history, or the interplay between intellectual thought and cultural shifts.

However, the author’s repeated attempts to defend Bergson against criticisms of being reactionary, mystical, or unscientific create a bias that detracts from the balance of the narrative, which I found frustrating throughout the book.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is useful to learn about a philosopher I was not familiar with. This engaging account of Henri Bergson’s life has stimulated a need to learn more about his philosophy.

[Herb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life and thought of Henri Bergson, a world famous (at the time) French philosopher of the first decades of the 2oth c. This is an excellent explication of Bergson's philosophy and a most engaging look at his life and times. After becoming world renown during his time, he oddly dropped off the end of the philosophy world after his death. Even though, I majored in the subject, I cannot remember his name being mentioned in any of my courses. This is a very good book - sparkling prose and a most interesting subject.

[Jeremy I Skipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Scum: I'd like the blow on the head.

Michael Miles: The blow on the head.

Mrs Scum: Just there.

Michael Miles: Jolly good. Well your first question for the blow on the head this evening is: What great opponent of Cartesian dualism resists the reduction of psychological phenomena to physical states?

Mrs Scum: I don't know that!

Michael Miles: Well, have a guess.

Mrs Scum: Henri Bergson.

Michael Miles: Is the correct answer!

Mrs Scum: Ooh, that was lucky. I never even heard of him.

[Mitch Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A review of Henri Bergson’s life that affectionately positions him in the philosophical and social context of his time. I would have preferred more exposition of his ideas and in this respect the book left me wanting more. But it does an excellent job of explaining the reception of his ideas.

[John Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bergson went to school in Paris in his early days while his parents lived in London. It was expected that he would study mathematics in college but instead he chose philosophy. In his first speech at college, he warned against the severe disadvantages of specialization.

An early influence on Bergson, when he was still in his scientific outlook was Herbert Spencer. But at some point, in the 1880s, he had a change of heart. Bergson was concerned with the scientism of his day.

In a letter to Arthur Lovejoy, Bergson says “our inner life, from beginning to end, is thus an indivisible continuity, and this is what I call our durée .“ “It is succession, but succession without numerical and distinct multiplicity, that is, pure succession. “

“No two moments in lived experience are interchangeable because we are always growing, maturing, changing, even when this change is difficult to perceive.”

“Duree is the continuous progression of the past, knowing into the future and swelling up as it advances…”

“Our personality is like a snowball rolling down a hill, accumulating experience as it grows. “

“We have formed the habit of solidifying our inner life into rigidly defined concepts.“ How else would we communicate our inner states then by using words that make them accessible to others? But in conforming too heavily to the practical requirements of social life and communication, we miss the symphony for the drums. We lose sight of our real, more profound self.”

“Excessive faith in science and technology was seen as ridding the world of wonder, beauty, and mystery, leaving little room, it seemed, for religious beliefs, or the notion of free will.”

This puts me in mind of the world created by Michael Moorcock in which his character Elric inhabits. Elric fights the forces of order for the gods of chaos but he does not wish the gods of chaos to achieve full victory. That would be at least as horrifying is if the gods of order achieved full victory. That is perhaps why he occasionally listens to the knight of balance.

“Against Fechner-who believed that our internal lives could be mathematized-and through detailed analysis of the existing literature, Bergson argued that there is an essential difference, a difference in kind, a complete incommensurability between quantity (something’s measurability) and quality (how something feels to us). “

“Duree represented the antithesis of predictability…“

“In Time and Free will, Bergson used his discovery of durée to argue against determinism, and for the reality of free will.“ For Bergson, mental phenomena, cannot be reduced to the laws of physics…“

“” The same cause never presents itself twice.””

“Most of the time, we live outside ourselves… To act freely is to retake possession of oneself… It is to place oneself back in pure duration.“

Bergson is traveling much the same ground as many philosophers before and after. We live lives of routine, where continuity is important where novelty requires extra thought and can slow us down and cause us to make mistakes. Bergson bemoans this.

Marcel Proust was Bergson’s best man!

The author does a very good job of bringing up influences on the scientific and intellectual milieu of the day.

“For Bergson, to perceive is essentially to select what is most useful to our present situation out of the overwhelming bread of what is perceptible.”

During the early part of the 19th century, Bergson was a member of a psychical society whose stated purpose was to explain the inexplicable using the methods of scientific experimentation.

Herring argues that Bergson did not exactly have the opinion of science he is come down in history is having had.

Herring also argues that Bergson was well aware of the limitations of intuition, and he did not present intuition as superior to intelligence.

In fact, without intelligence, he argued there is no intuition. “ “Without the intellect, intuition would’ve remained in the form of instinct…“

“Bergson was smeared as an anti-rationalist, his fundamental point was actually much more straightforward: our intelligence is not the only tool at our disposal to attend reality, and science alone should not always get the last word.”

William James was an enthusiastic supporter of Bergson’s work.

In 1911 at the height of his affair with Lady Ottoline Morrell, Bertrand Russell learned of Bergson and became quite jealous of the influence he had on local British institutions. That is at least how Herring puts it.


Apparently, Bergson played a role in a French attempt to convince Woodrow Wilson to advocate for the US entering World War I

Albert Einstein came to Paris to give a talk on relativity in 1922. Bergson attended the lecture. And in the question-and-answer period, Bergson was sort of forced into speaking about the difference between Einstein‘s concept of space-time and Bergson’s concept of durée. Bergson had spent a lot of time studying Einstein. Unfortunately, Einstein’s French was not adequate to understand what Bergson had to say. He concluded “The time of the philosopher does not exist.” And it was at this point that Bergson’s public began to disappear. He lived another twenty years.

It would have been nice for Herring to give a quick synopsis of his thought, instead of recounting the ideas as Bergson developed them during his life.

The key concepts that Bergson developed were: intuition, durée and elan vital. They were not however fixed concepts. In his mind, they were very much fluid.

As Bergson saw it, science and mathematics was great and necessary, but intelligence(analysis) and instinct were inadequate to explain life. As he saw it, we needed something more; we needed intuition.

“Intuition, on the other hand, “neither depends on a point of view nor relies on any symbol”; instead, it is a form of knowledge that apprehends reality from within.” “in a sense, intuition is a kind of vision- a direct contact with reality in all its fluidity...”

It is not clear how durée came about, but he first had an inkling when he was teaching Zeno’s paradoxes. Science chops up time and space and ends up in paradoxes. Time cannot be like space. We experience the passing of time. Time is not an abstraction. “It is a real force acting in the world.”

“In a letter to Arthur Lovejoy, Bergson wrote: “Duree is indivisible, but this does not imply that past and present are simultaneous. On the contrary, durée is essentially succession...”

Science, in his time, could not explain life or consciousness(nor in our own time.) “... Life takes the form of a burst of accumulated energy resulting in a forward movement. For Bergson, all of life is the continuation of the same initial impulse propelling itself along diverging lines of evolution: At a certain moment and at certain points in space, a clearly visible current was born: this current of life passing through the bodies that it had organized one after the other passing from generation to generation was divided among species and distributed to individuals without thereby losing anything of its force, and rather intensifying it as it advanced.”
“Bergson conceived the elan vital is analogous to individual consciousness.” “Creativity requires an active will, something like an effort by which we draw quote from ourselves not only all that there is there was there, but more than what was there.”

“Matter tends toward automatism, predictability, and repetitiveness...” “The elan vital, on the other hand can be seen as “an effort to remount the incline that matter descends.”

There are aspects of human life that are not amenable to quantification, in Bergson’s mind: abstract thinking, freedom of the will creativity and memory. We fight this same fight today.

[CharlesS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the best intellectual biographies I have read, especially since Herring is so attentive to the socio-cultural links of Bergson's development. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

[Alexander O. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herring tells a charming tale of the philosopher of the turn of the 20th century. Bergson's significance is well narrated and appreciated in all respects, from his philosophical views to his political actions. His influence and the ideas that were transformed from his views into mass cultural movements are all presented with deserved adoration.

When I learned that Herring was writing this book, I pre-ordered as soon as I could, and the only regret I have is that I was only able to get around to reading it now. Bergson is a notoriously misrepresented philosopher, and in this page turner, many of Bergson's core ideas are given the deserved context, relevance, and space within his life.

I, like many in the late 20th century and early 21st, first came across Bergson through Gilles Deleuze's Bergsonism. Deleuze had a knack for careful interpretations of philosophers that makes monsters of their philosophy that he saw as aiding to the craft of his own metaphysical developments. However, among the many philosophers he wrote manuscripts on, it seems to me that his interpretation of Bergson makes no monster of him at all. With curiosity in why Deleuze would have treated Bergson differently, I dove into Matter and Memory and Creative Evolution. It is fair to say that Bergson's work has transformed how I function as an information researcher, and I count myself among the metaphysically persuaded.

True to Herring's final words of the manuscript, we, "The thinker[s] of durée still [have] a lot to say about the present moment." The world is still enthralled by the technologically digital world, the stylistics of positivism, and material mechanism. The beginnings of returning to the reality beyond the post-modernism of contemporary science begins by rethinking the world with attention to Bergson.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already had some appreciation of the significance of Henri Bergson's philosophy from its take-up by US pragmatists (eg James and later Pirsig readers) as well as by Whitehead and most recently by Iain McGilchrist's extensive use of Bergson references in his (2023) magnum opus "The Matter With Things". Emily Herring I had noticed write an (2017) article on Julian Huxley's use of Bergson, have been since then anticipating the biography she has now produced. It does not disappoint.

Her writing style is a major attraction. Here in one sentence describing Bergson's experience of the run-up to the first world war: "Even for those more attuned to recent developments in international relations, the threat of war had not felt real until the news broke that it was." Neat.

Many spoilers about the the Bergson biographical content have already been shared in the media, and perhaps his role in wartime politics is one of the more surprising. Less surprising than the fact that prejudices against his being a French Jew and his work attracting a massive female following explain why a backlash against his undoubted initial superstar success led unfairly to his fall from favour and visibility thereafter.

"Bergson is back" and deservedly so on the subtle reading of his ideas on integration of the recurring philosophical division between the explicit / objective / classical and the intuitive / implicit / romantic. Biography is an excellent medium to get to grips with human ideas. Herring will deserve our future gratitude, if her efforts are taken up by enough new readers in our troubled and confusing present. Highly recommended as a biography of interesting times.

[Michael Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herald of a Restless World is a fascinating and beautifully written biography that brings Henri Bergson's life and ideas to a wider audience. Emily Herring does an excellent job of showing why Bergson became one of the most influential philosophers of the early twentieth century and how his ideas about creativity, time, memory, and consciousness continue to resonate today. I especially enjoyed how the book balances intellectual history with the personal story of Bergson's remarkable life.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its accessibility. Herring explains complex philosophical concepts in a way that feels engaging rather than intimidating, while also placing Bergson's work within the broader cultural and historical context of his time. The discussions of his exchanges with figures like Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein add another layer of depth and make the story even more compelling.

Overall, Herald of a Restless World is an insightful and enjoyable read for anyone interested in philosophy, biography, or intellectual history. It succeeds in reintroducing Bergson as a thinker whose ideas remain surprisingly relevant in today's rapidly changing world. Whether you're already familiar with his philosophy or discovering it for the first time, this book is both informative and inspiring.

[Vignir Másson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Þetta er fín bók en hún er of grunn og of mikil hetjusaga.

Bergson er málaður upp sem snillingur og einskonar dýrlingur síns tíma en Herring snertir aðeins á yfirborði heimspekinnar hans.

Hún snertir á þessu seinna atriði í upphafi bókarinnar og staðfestir að það er ekki markmið bókarinnar, sem er gott og blessað. Þá býst maður þó við að farið sé á dýptina hvað varðar líf hans. Því miður er það ekki þannig.

Mörg áhugaverð sambönd eru lítið skoðuð, t.d. samband Bergson og William James. Sambönd sem eru síðan skoðuð, t.d. Proust og Russel, fjalla svo mikið um hvað sker Bergson frá þessum fígúrum. Það eru litlar tilraunir gerðar til að kryfja eða álykta neitt um þessi sambönd. Það er að mínu mati mikill missir.

Sagan er að mestu leiti af hlédrægum einstaklingi á umrótartímum. Bergson er söguhetja sem verður að mestu leiti fyrir atvikum í stað þess að móta þau að einhverju leiti. Þar liggur helsti vandi bókarinnar.

[Mario Veen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The world Henri Bergson was born into was one in which aspects of reality once believed to be stable and eternal were revealed to be subject to continuous and unstoppable change.”(12) Bergson was born in the year Darwin published Origin of the Species and passed away in the first year of World War II. In between, he caused the first ever traffic jam on Broadway, debated Einstein and played a part in Woodrow Wilson joining World War I by suggesting he could “become the first to realize Plato’s dream of a philosopher king”(222). These and many other events in Bergson’s life, combined with Herring’s engaging writing style make HERALD OF A RESTLESS WORLD a philosophical page-turner.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across Henri Bergson through Etienne Gilson's "The Philosopher and Theology" where he writes a lot about Bergson and the Scholastics, and how he himself was smitten - and then I read Bergsons first book, as well as this one in order to get a more full grasp of the person and his ideas. Emily Herring does a superb work in letting us know the person and his ideas together with new and fresh angles in every chapter. Its a well built book, not without some flaws and some repetition, but they are in the shaddows of the narrative of this quiet, thorough, and unique philosopher. I am very happy I found this one, it added a lot of context to an interesting person.

[JDE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed biography of Henri Bergson, situating his life amidst his philosophy, whilst being both a page-turner and a delight to read. All the while seamlessly cohering the near-endless fluxing threads of philosophical and scientific history that gravitated around Bergson. It's honest and kind, and full of a clear respect/adoration for Bergson that seeks to both question/undo a few historical 'errors' (Einstein, Russell, etc), whilst at the same time deeply embedding his thought into his life.

[Vincent Poirier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herring delivers an appropriately thin biography, meaning that we learn very little about Bergson's life story, and yet she conveys very well how much Bergson valued privacy and discretion, and his intention of not leaving anything to posterity other than his finished works.

And here, Herring's book shines. She offers us a good overview of Bergson's thoughts, ideas, and values, but without burderning us with an inflexible interpretation of them.

She convinces us that Bergson is relevant today, and she makes want to read him.

[Luke Mohnasky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with Henri Bergson's life. I am grateful for this biography, it portrays this kind, short, shy, self-conscious, and thoughtful french man who caught wind of philosophy. I am a baby in philosophy, needing consistent guidance and reorienting. However, Bergson's tune sounds familiar. His duree and elan vital re-enchant a moderned world where I feel resistant everyday. Emily Herring writes skillfully, showing her expertise in historical philosophy and I love that.
After reading this, I am eager to read Bergson's books themselves.

[Paul Willig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an engaging read! The book has chapters both about Bergson's life, which also paint a compelling picture of the mood of the early 20th century, and about his ideas, explaining them clearly without requiring the reader to have an extensive background in philosophy.
I found myself both feeling a great deal of sympathy for this weird and gentle man, and fascinated by how his ideas can powerfully change one's perspective. I absolutely recommend it.

[Patrycja]

Hmmm...
I don't know what to say about this book.
Nearly each chapter started with a fun fact that was supposed to help understand the envrionment Bergson was living in. I will take a fun fact any time and any day, but as chapters were relatively short, the amount of fun facts was substantial.
It was a decent overview of Bergson life and a hint of his thought. Overall, good introductory material.

[Jonathan Eddyshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read about Bergson for a long while, ever since I learned about the "Battle for time" between him and Einstein. This biography is brilliant; it provides a very readable picture of Bergson as well as some good summaries (no doubt simplified for people like me!) of his key philosophical ideas. It's about time.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great primer on Henri Bergson, and I certainly did learn some new (to me) details about his life and personality. I was looking for a deeper dive into his work, however. The author is clear about her intentions with this book, so the fault is not hers. I still enjoyed the book and am glad to have read it.

[Peter Daerden · Rating 4 out of 5]

In weerwil van de originele Engelse titel heeft de Nederlandse uitgever expliciet een 'biografie' van dit boek gemaakt. Daarvoor weegt het toch wat te licht. Als inleiding tot leven en denken van Bergson is het daarentegen zeker interessant en lezenswaardig. En een herinnering aan de relativiteit van roem. 

[Signe Mežinska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. To be honest, I had not given much thought to Bergson since completing my philosophy studies many years ago, and this book was a welcome reminder to look at his work. Herring offers not only a compelling portrait of a philosopher and the evolution of his ideas, but also situates them skillfully within the broader intellectual and historical context of the period.