Henri BergsonThinkers

The Absolute (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not separate from the world of experience. It runs through it.

An Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the potential for memory that supports the body in its unconsciously remembered activities.

Analysis (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the dividing of things according to perspectives taken.

Certitude (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠only achievable in immanence. The ultimate content of this certitude is incommunicable.

A Concept (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that part of human knowledge representing 'cinematographic thinking' meaning, like a film reel, a concept is a little snapshot of events, a partial image which, once strung together in succession, make things gradually emerge as intelligible.

A Definition (n.) fails ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to get to a thing insofar as it imprisons and denies a thing or concept the respect due to life, which allows a thing to grow, expand through imperceptible metamorphosis. It practical, intimate acquaintance, such as springs from a long companionship.

A Duration (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the actualization of 'qualitative' rather than a 'quantitative' multiplicity.

The Ego (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a substratum with no reality... it is merely a symbol intended to unceasingly recall to our consciousness the artificial character of the process by which the attention places clean-cut states side by side, where actually there is a continuity which unfolds.

The Elan vital (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠always a case of a virtuality in the process of being actualized, a simplicity in the process of differentiating, a totality in the process of dividing proceeding 'by dissociation and division,' by 'dichotomy,' is the essence of life.