How did Henri Bergson’s idea of evolution differ from theories based on future goals?

Henri Bergson’s theory of creative evolution differed fundamentally from previous deterministic hypotheses, which he categorized as either mechanistic or teleological.

While mechanistic theories suggested that evolution is conditioned by existing forces, teleological theories argued that it is driven by predetermined future goals or aims. Bergson rejected both, viewing them as static interpretations that failed to account for the true nature of life and the importance of duration.12

Instead, Bergson proposed that evolution is a creative, unpredictable process driven by the élan vital, or "vital impulse." He viewed this force as a continuous, bifurcating line of development that generates new forms rather than following a fixed path toward a specific end. By emphasizing this constant state of becoming, Bergson argued that evolution is characterized by free, unpredictable creativity rather than the fulfillment of a pre-existing plan or the simple result of mechanical necessity.12