The aim of this study is to show how a possible philosophy of life can
arise from Bergson&rsquo / s conception of time. In realizing this aim, I appeal to
Hadot&rsquo / s description of the paradox of the human condition. I claim that in order
to understand how a Bergsonian philosophy of life through Bergson&rsquo / s
conception of time would arise we need to understand the paradox of the human
condition. The reason for this is that there are a lot of dualities in Bergson&rsquo / s
philosophy all of which, I claim, are based on this fundamental duality
concerning the human condition. I believe that when this paradox and its
possible resolution are restated in Bergsonian notions, a Bergsonian philosophy
of life that consists of a life sub specie durationis, that is a life under the aspect
of duration, would arise. Hadot considered the paradox within the context of phenomenology
alone. This made me proceed by searching for other approaches to the paradox within Bergson&rsquo / s philosophy. I realized that the attempts in finding out possible
solutions to this problem cannot be found in the context of phenomenology
alone and that the vitalist and the existentialist aspects have to be considered in
order to remain faithful to Bergson&rsquo / s philosophy as well as in order to construct
a Bergsonian philosophy of life. The phenomenological aspect of the paradox
arises around Bergson&rsquo / s notion of displacement of attention and when the
notion of duré / e ré / elle is considered with consciousness in the light of the notion
of intensity. The vitalist aspect enters into our discussion when we analyze
Bergson&rsquo / s notion of é / lan vital around the consideration of true evolution. I
believe that the existentialist aspect of the paradox of the human condition
comes from Bergson&rsquo / s notion of freedom around the discussion of the
superficial and the fundamental self. It emerges if the individual asks himself
how to deal with this paradox that in turn defines his struggle to transform the
tension the paradox involves and that tells him to bring his own attitude towards
it.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/654095/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 January 2003 |
| Creators | Tasdelen, Demet Kurtoslu |
| Contributors | Grunberg, David |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Ph.D. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for public access |
Page generated in 0.001 seconds