Creative Evolution

Creative Evolution is Henri Bergson's seminal work — an important and ambitious work by one of the truly great philosophers of the early 20th century. In this radical book, Bergson responds to the theories of natural selection previously proposed by Charles Darwin and argues against a reductionist view of evolution. Creative Evolution addresses the challenges that this evolutionary theory presented to humanity and human instinct. Instead, he hypothesizes that any theory of knowledge must have its basis on the theory of life — what he calls “élan vital”(the vital impetus) or humanity’s natural creative impulse.

Creative Evolution takes the reader on a journey through Bergson’s philosophical ideas on invention, intellect and consciousness in his trademark imaginative style. It also includes his famous discussion on the subjective nature of time.

Published in French in 1907, then first translated into English in 1911, Creative Evolution was highly influential for modernist writers and philosophers. It made Bergson world-famous in his own lifetime and played a significant, yet controversial, role in the path of 20th-century philosophy. Its academic rigor and originality contributed to Bergson winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1927. Over a century later, Creative Evolution continues to generate much debate and discussion.