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Work #549 · Late

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

Henri Bergson
1907 · French
Vitalist philosophy of evolution · French process philosophy / vitalism

Bergson's 1907 vitalist philosophy of evolution — the élan vital

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice) (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Plural
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Cosmic-ordering
Observer · Moral Authority Experience
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

The evolutionary durée-time.

Space

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

The space of evolutionary unfolding.

Matter

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

Matter as resistance to and condition of élan vital.

Observer

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

The intuitive philosopher grasping life from within.

Energy

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

Central — élan vital as cosmic-evolutionary energy.

Information

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

Foundational vitalist-evolutionary framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Creative Evolution (L'évolution créatrice)

Bergson's vitalism declined in mid-20th c. but profoundly influenced Whitehead, Deleuze, Teilhard de Chardin.