Emily Herring: Henri Bergson, The OG Evolutionary
Wed Apr 09 2025
Once upon a time, French philosopher Henri Bergson was the most celebrated public intellectual in the world. People stood in long lines just to get a glimpse of his lectures. He took the culture by storm, and had enormous influence on early 20th century thought across multiple fields. Then, Europe descended into war, the zeitgeist changed, and little by little he faded away. And in a post-war modernist, materialistic age, there just wasn't been much room for this unique philosopher of consciousness, creativity, and time who brought meaning and mystery to the lecture halls of Europe and the salons of Paris.
Henri Bergson was thinking deeply about the philosophical implications of evolution all the way back in the 19th century. The originality of his thought has inspired an effort in a few corners of the academic world to revive and revisit his work and influence. Most recently, Dr. Emily Herring's new biography of Bergson, Herald of a Restless World, is garnering attention on both sides of the Atlantic. I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Herring to the Thinking Ahead.
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Once upon a time, French philosopher Henri Bergson was the most celebrated public intellectual in the world. People stood in long lines just to get a glimpse of his lectures. He took the culture by storm, and had enormous influence on early 20th century thought across multiple fields. Then, Europe descended into war, the zeitgeist changed, and little by little he faded away. And in a post-war modernist, materialistic age, there just wasn't been much room for this unique philosopher of consciousness, creativity, and time who brought meaning and mystery to the lecture halls of Europe and the salons of Paris. Henri Bergson was thinking deeply about the philosophical implications of evolution all the way back in the 19th century. The originality of his thought has inspired an effort in a few corners of the academic world to revive and revisit his work and influence. Most recently, Dr. Emily Herring's new biography of Bergson, Herald of a Restless World, is garnering attention on both sides of the Atlantic. I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Herring to the Thinking Ahead.