Creative Evolution

In Creative Evolution, Henri Bergson invites us to see life not as a static mechanism or a predetermined plan, but as an unceasing, inventive surge. Written with poetic clarity and philosophical rigor, the book challenges Darwinian mechanism and finalism alike, proposing instead a universe of genuine novelty. Bergson’s central concept—the élan vital, or vital impulse—describes a creative momentum that diverges into plants, animals, and humans, each developing along different lines of consciousness and action. Intellect, he argues, fragments time into spatial snapshots, while intuition alone can enter the flowing duration of reality. This modern-reader’s edition preserves Bergson’s luminous ideas in clear, contemporary English, making his masterpiece accessible without losing its depth. It includes a glossary, key passages, and a guide to understanding Bergson’s context. Part of The Modern Wisdom Library.