Henri Bergson's philosophy, as explored in Mark Sinclair's biography, resonates with today's anxieties about an uncertain future. Bergson emphasized "duration," subjective, flowing time as opposed to the fixed, measurable time of science. He believed free will and genuine novelty are possible due to this unpredictable flow. His work challenged deterministic views of the universe and championed intuition as a vital tool for understanding reality, distinct from intellect, which dissects and analyzes. Bergson viewed life as a continuous creative process, an "élan vital" driving evolution and constantly generating unpredictable new forms. His ideas, though less prominent today, offer a framework for navigating a world defined by change and uncertainty, reminding us that the future remains unwritten.
The blog post explores the potential of applying "quantitative mereology," the study of parts and wholes with numerical measures, to complex systems. It argues that traditional physics, focusing on fundamental particles and forces, struggles to capture the emergent properties of complex systems. Instead, a mereological approach could offer a complementary perspective by quantifying relationships between parts and wholes across different scales, providing insights into how these systems function and evolve. This involves defining measures of "wholeness" based on concepts like integration, differentiation, and organization, potentially leading to new mathematical tools and models for understanding emergent phenomena in areas like biology, economics, and social systems. The author uses the example of entropy to illustrate how a mereological view might reinterpret existing physical concepts, suggesting entropy as a measure of the distribution of energy across a system's parts rather than purely as disorder.
HN users discussed the practicality and philosophical implications of applying mereology (the study of parts and wholes) to complex systems. Some expressed skepticism about quantifying mereology, questioning the usefulness of assigning numerical values to part-whole relationships, especially in fields like biology. Others were more receptive, suggesting potential applications in areas like network analysis and systems engineering. The debate touched on the inherent complexity of defining "parts" and "wholes" in different contexts, and whether a purely reductionist approach using mereology could capture emergent properties. Some commenters also drew parallels to other frameworks like category theory and information theory as potentially more suitable tools for understanding complex systems. Finally, there was discussion of the challenge of reconciling discrete, measurable components with the continuous nature of many real-world phenomena.
Summary of Comments ( 1 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43084938
Hacker News users discuss the relevance of Bergson's philosophy in the context of the linked article. Several commenters appreciate the introduction to Bergson, finding his ideas about time, intuition, and experience resonating with current discussions around technology, artificial intelligence, and the limitations of purely mechanistic worldviews. Some point out the influence Bergson had on other thinkers, including Deleuze. Others express skepticism about the practicality or clarity of Bergson's concepts, questioning whether his philosophy offers concrete solutions or simply restates complex problems in abstract terms. A few recommend specific books for further exploration of Bergson's work, including Creative Evolution and Matter and Memory. There's also a brief discussion about the challenges of translating philosophical texts and the potential for misinterpretations.
The Hacker News post titled "All Is Unfinished: Henri Bergson's philosophy for our times" linking to a Nation article about Henri Bergson has generated a modest discussion with several interesting comments. Notably, there's a recurring theme of Bergson's relevance to modern challenges and the nature of time and experience.
One commenter highlights Bergson's concept of "duration," contrasting it with the spatialized, measurable time often prioritized in scientific and technological contexts. They suggest Bergson's philosophy offers a valuable counterpoint to the quantifiable, emphasizing the lived, subjective experience of time as a continuous flow. This comment sparks a brief exchange about the challenges of communicating these abstract concepts, with another user offering an analogy of music to illustrate Bergson's notion of duration.
Another commenter touches on the influence of Bergson on other thinkers, specifically mentioning Gilles Deleuze, and praises the Nation article for being a good introduction to Bergson's work. They also note that Bergson engaged with prominent figures of his time, including Einstein, in debates about the nature of time. This emphasizes Bergson's historical context and the significance of his ideas in the intellectual landscape of his era.
Further discussion delves into the practical applications of Bergson's philosophy. One commenter suggests that his ideas about intuition and instinct can inform a critique of artificial intelligence. They propose that while AI can process and analyze vast amounts of data, it lacks the intuitive grasp of reality that humans possess, echoing Bergson's emphasis on lived experience over mechanistic calculation.
A different commenter emphasizes the importance of Bergson's work in understanding the dynamic nature of creativity and progress. They argue that Bergson's concept of the "élan vital" captures the ongoing, unpredictable unfolding of life and creation, contrasting it with static or deterministic views of the world. This comment connects Bergson's philosophy to broader questions about the nature of change and evolution.
Finally, several comments simply express appreciation for the article and its introduction to Bergson's thought, suggesting a renewed interest in his ideas among the Hacker News community. While the discussion isn't extensively lengthy, it provides a multifaceted perspective on Bergson's relevance and continuing influence.