How did Henri Bergson’s study of time change his philosophical views?

Henri Bergson initially adhered to mechanistic theories influenced by Herbert Spencer. However, his study of time in physics fundamentally altered his perspective when he realized that scientific time—measured by clocks—does not truly endure. He concluded that positive science functions by eliminating duration, a discovery that led him to reject his previous mechanistic views.1

This shift prompted Bergson to distinguish between two types of time:
* Scientific Time: A spatialized, quantitative conception that treats time as a series of points.1
* Duration (lived time): A qualitative, inner experience of time that is essential to human consciousness.1

By analyzing the inner self, Bergson argued that psychological states are qualitative rather than quantitative. He criticized attempts to measure these states, such as Fechner’s Law, for falsifying human experience. Ultimately, Bergson maintained that once the confusion between duration and extension is resolved, the arguments for determinism against human liberty are revealed to be baseless.1