Creative Evolution
Henri Bergson's highly influential book, `Creative Evolution' (`Evolution Creatrice', 1907) established a theory of evolution - called `Creative Evolution Theory' - which gained a considerable following in the first half of the 20th Century. It also helped the author to win the Nobel Prize in 1927 for his work investigating the origins of biological information and divergence in the evolutionary process.

In this work, Bergson seeks an alternative explanation as to how new forms of life emerge compared to those prevailing at the time. This included both the `mechanistic' or deterministic explanations of biological science on the one hand, and on the other the `finalist' or strictly teleological explanation of those who believed in the hand of a `Creator' or God, coordinating life in a divine plan.

Creative Evolution proposes a third explanation in what Bergson calls élan vital' or `vital impetus', a force that infuses all matter and drives it forward into an ever-changing and infinite variety of living forms. This appears as a vital impetus that can also be related to humanity's own creative life force. Bergson's book builds on his `Theory of Time' as set forth in works such as `Matter and Memory' and `Time and Free Will'. In these works, and in the present volume, Bergson sees continuous `duration' as real time, as opposed to the way in which time is divided up into measured units by the `organising' mind of science.

Life, as we really experience it, is subject to constant change and our tendency to explain evolutionary change by looking only at `ends' achieved rather than the processes by which they emerge, divorces us from the life force itself.

Instead, Bergson feels we need to reengage with our instincts as well as with our intelligence in order to understand the evolutionary process, as both co-exist to some extent within us, all forms of life having a common origin in that instinctual, innate knowledge of simpler life forms. Though these may be unconscious or semi-conscious, they are, in Bergson's view, much more in touch with the ever-changing nature of real time than the analytical and rational knowledge of our species

As he writes: “Our thought, in its purely logical form, is incapable of presenting the true nature of life, the full meaning of the evolutionary movement. Created by life, in definite circumstances, to act on definite things, how can it embrace life, of which it is only an emanation or an aspect?”

It is to attempt an answer to this question that `Creative Evolution' directs its attention.
"1116803409"
Creative Evolution
Henri Bergson's highly influential book, `Creative Evolution' (`Evolution Creatrice', 1907) established a theory of evolution - called `Creative Evolution Theory' - which gained a considerable following in the first half of the 20th Century. It also helped the author to win the Nobel Prize in 1927 for his work investigating the origins of biological information and divergence in the evolutionary process.

In this work, Bergson seeks an alternative explanation as to how new forms of life emerge compared to those prevailing at the time. This included both the `mechanistic' or deterministic explanations of biological science on the one hand, and on the other the `finalist' or strictly teleological explanation of those who believed in the hand of a `Creator' or God, coordinating life in a divine plan.

Creative Evolution proposes a third explanation in what Bergson calls élan vital' or `vital impetus', a force that infuses all matter and drives it forward into an ever-changing and infinite variety of living forms. This appears as a vital impetus that can also be related to humanity's own creative life force. Bergson's book builds on his `Theory of Time' as set forth in works such as `Matter and Memory' and `Time and Free Will'. In these works, and in the present volume, Bergson sees continuous `duration' as real time, as opposed to the way in which time is divided up into measured units by the `organising' mind of science.

Life, as we really experience it, is subject to constant change and our tendency to explain evolutionary change by looking only at `ends' achieved rather than the processes by which they emerge, divorces us from the life force itself.

Instead, Bergson feels we need to reengage with our instincts as well as with our intelligence in order to understand the evolutionary process, as both co-exist to some extent within us, all forms of life having a common origin in that instinctual, innate knowledge of simpler life forms. Though these may be unconscious or semi-conscious, they are, in Bergson's view, much more in touch with the ever-changing nature of real time than the analytical and rational knowledge of our species

As he writes: “Our thought, in its purely logical form, is incapable of presenting the true nature of life, the full meaning of the evolutionary movement. Created by life, in definite circumstances, to act on definite things, how can it embrace life, of which it is only an emanation or an aspect?”

It is to attempt an answer to this question that `Creative Evolution' directs its attention.
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Creative Evolution

Creative Evolution

by Henri Bergson

Narrated by Michael Lunts

Unabridged — 13 hours, 38 minutes

Creative Evolution

Creative Evolution

by Henri Bergson

Narrated by Michael Lunts

Unabridged — 13 hours, 38 minutes

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Overview

Henri Bergson's highly influential book, `Creative Evolution' (`Evolution Creatrice', 1907) established a theory of evolution - called `Creative Evolution Theory' - which gained a considerable following in the first half of the 20th Century. It also helped the author to win the Nobel Prize in 1927 for his work investigating the origins of biological information and divergence in the evolutionary process.

In this work, Bergson seeks an alternative explanation as to how new forms of life emerge compared to those prevailing at the time. This included both the `mechanistic' or deterministic explanations of biological science on the one hand, and on the other the `finalist' or strictly teleological explanation of those who believed in the hand of a `Creator' or God, coordinating life in a divine plan.

Creative Evolution proposes a third explanation in what Bergson calls élan vital' or `vital impetus', a force that infuses all matter and drives it forward into an ever-changing and infinite variety of living forms. This appears as a vital impetus that can also be related to humanity's own creative life force. Bergson's book builds on his `Theory of Time' as set forth in works such as `Matter and Memory' and `Time and Free Will'. In these works, and in the present volume, Bergson sees continuous `duration' as real time, as opposed to the way in which time is divided up into measured units by the `organising' mind of science.

Life, as we really experience it, is subject to constant change and our tendency to explain evolutionary change by looking only at `ends' achieved rather than the processes by which they emerge, divorces us from the life force itself.

Instead, Bergson feels we need to reengage with our instincts as well as with our intelligence in order to understand the evolutionary process, as both co-exist to some extent within us, all forms of life having a common origin in that instinctual, innate knowledge of simpler life forms. Though these may be unconscious or semi-conscious, they are, in Bergson's view, much more in touch with the ever-changing nature of real time than the analytical and rational knowledge of our species

As he writes: “Our thought, in its purely logical form, is incapable of presenting the true nature of life, the full meaning of the evolutionary movement. Created by life, in definite circumstances, to act on definite things, how can it embrace life, of which it is only an emanation or an aspect?”

It is to attempt an answer to this question that `Creative Evolution' directs its attention.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"I have been re-reading Bergson's books, and nothing that I have read for years has so excited and stimulated my thoughts. I am sure that his philosophy has a great future; it breaks through old frameworks and brings things to a solution from which new crystallizations can be reached." - William James (1903)

"An updated translation of Bergson’s most significant and most misunderstood book was long overdue. … Landes – who has previously translated Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception, another, notoriously elegant yet challenging text – more than meets these requirements. … There is no doubt that this new translation will become an absolute reference, not least because Landes has included illuminating passages from the critical apparatus of the most recent French edition of L’Evolution créatrice. But Landes’s most remarkable improvement is in his recreation of the effortless flow of Bergson’s philosophical prose." - Emily Herring, Times Literary Supplement

"This new translation by Donald Landes captures the mesmerizing work that turned Henri Bergson into one of the century’s most provocative thinkers—with expert annotations, correspondence and additional material by influential thinkers from William James to Gilles Deleuze." - Jimena Canales, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA

"Henri Bergson, who personally oversaw the translation of all his books into English, would be delighted by this new edition of his greatest work. Donald Landes’s translation is exquisite and the extensive editorial notes are indispensable for the serious study of Creative Evolution." - Alexandre Lefebvre, University of Sydney, Australia

"This splendid new translation provides an exceptional, scholarly tool for serious specialists as well as all readers interested in Bergson’s work. It will swiftly become the definitive reference text for all Anglophone Bergson scholarship." - Christina Howells, University of Oxford, UK

"A major event in post-Kantian philosophy. Featuring a lucid introduction, helpful translator’s notes, and a judicious selection from Arnaud François’s illuminating critical dossier, this fine translation of Creative Evolution means that English-language Bergson scholarship has begun to gain the serious editions of his texts that it deserves." - Mark Sinclair, Roehampton University, UK

"This superb translation will introduce a new generation to Bergson. Landes's cogent introduction and editorial notes and the accompanying dossier of correspondence, reception and commentaries not only situates Creative Evolution in relation to Bergson's oeuvre, but also to the myriad scientific and philosophical sources informing his thought. An outstanding achievement." - Mark Antliff, Duke University, USA

"This wonderful new translation of Bergson’s classic Creative Evolution is warmly welcomed, as are the rich introduction, comprehensive editorial notes, and thoughtful selection of commentaries. There are many improvements to the original translation published over a century ago." - Emily Thomas, Durham University, UK

"Creative Evolution is essential reading today. To translate it well requires a serious engagement with Bergson’s entire body of work, sustained philosophical attention, a feel for context (including discoveries in thermodynamics) and, most importantly, enormous care. Happily, this is what Donald Landes offers us here." - Suzanne Guerlac, University of California, Berkeley, USA


"I have been re-reading Bergson's books, and nothing that I have read for years has so excited and stimulated my thoughts. I am sure that his philosophy has a great future; it breaks through old frameworks and brings things to a solution from which new crystallizations can be reached." - William James (1903)

"An updated translation of Bergson’s most significant and most misunderstood book was long overdue. … Landes – who has previously translated Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception, another, notoriously elegant yet challenging text – more than meets these requirements. … There is no doubt that this new translation will become an absolute reference, not least because Landes has included illuminating passages from the critical apparatus of the most recent French edition of L’Evolution créatrice. But Landes’s most remarkable improvement is in his recreation of the effortless flow of Bergson’s philosophical prose." - Emily Herring, Times Literary Supplement

"This new translation by Donald Landes captures the mesmerizing work that turned Henri Bergson into one of the century’s most provocative thinkers—with expert annotations, correspondence and additional material by influential thinkers from William James to Gilles Deleuze." - Jimena Canales, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA

"Henri Bergson, who personally oversaw the translation of all his books into English, would be delighted by this new edition of his greatest work. Donald Landes’s translation is exquisite and the extensive editorial notes are indispensable for the serious study of Creative Evolution." - Alexandre Lefebvre, University of Sydney, Australia

"This splendid new translation provides an exceptional, scholarly tool for serious specialists as well as all readers interested in Bergson’s work. It will swiftly become the definitive reference text for all Anglophone Bergson scholarship." - Christina Howells, University of Oxford, UK

"A major event in post-Kantian philosophy. Featuring a lucid introduction, helpful translator’s notes, and a judicious selection from Arnaud François’s illuminating critical dossier, this fine translation of Creative Evolution means that English-language Bergson scholarship has begun to gain the serious editions of his texts that it deserves." - Mark Sinclair, Roehampton University, UK

"This superb translation will introduce a new generation to Bergson. Landes's cogent introduction and editorial notes and the accompanying dossier of correspondence, reception and commentaries not only situates Creative Evolution in relation to Bergson's oeuvre, but also to the myriad scientific and philosophical sources informing his thought. An outstanding achievement." - Mark Antliff, Duke University, USA

"This wonderful new translation of Bergson’s classic Creative Evolution is warmly welcomed, as are the rich introduction, comprehensive editorial notes, and thoughtful selection of commentaries. There are many improvements to the original translation published over a century ago." - Emily Thomas, Durham University, UK

"Creative Evolution is essential reading today. To translate it well requires a serious engagement with Bergson’s entire body of work, sustained philosophical attention, a feel for context (including discoveries in thermodynamics) and, most importantly, enormous care. Happily, this is what Donald Landes offers us here." - Suzanne Guerlac, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Product Details

BN ID: 2940160526621
Publisher: Ukemi Audiobooks from W. F. Howes Ltd
Publication date: 12/14/2023
Edition description: Unabridged
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