A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Scientific Moment of the Bergsonian Method (2024)

Lipsanen, K. (2024). The Scientific Moment of the Bergsonian Method. Bergsoniana, 4. https://doi.org/10.4000/bergsoniana.1859

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lipsanen, Katariina

Journal or series: Bergsoniana

ISSN: 2803-6395

eISSN: 2800-874X

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 01/01/2024

Volume: 4

Publisher: Société des amis de Bergson

Publication country: France

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/bergsoniana.1859

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93595

Abstract

This paper explores the role of scientific knowledge from the perspective of Henri Bergson’s philosophical method. For Bergson, scientific knowledge plays a key part in philosophy. He presents his philosophical method as having two moments, the first of which is scientific. The scientific moment means exploring existing scientific studies on the subject matter at hand, before engaging in what Bergson calls a “properly philosophical” moment. Following Bergson’s criticism of positivism, we can ask: Are the facts left purely in the hands of the sciences? Are they simply taken as given without any contribution from philosophy? And how is the scientific moment connected to the second and truly philosophical moment of the methodology? I argue that the role of scientific knowledge can be best captured with the help of Bergson’s concept of lines of facts (lignes de faits). The scientific moment forms the necessary positive basis of any philosophical study, and the “lines of facts” illustrate the philosophical contribution to the scientific facts that form it.

Keywords: science; scientific knowledge; philosophy; metaphysics; methodology; intuition; philosophy of science

Free keywords: Bergson, Henri; science; method; intuition

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024