Only Make Sense Later

instant

is not a mere artifact of the spirit of calculation, but, quite to the contrary, the source of novelty in human experience. The novel and the instantaneous co-imply each other: Novelty is clearly always instantaneous, but the instant itself is always novel forever new, always different, unremissibly other than any other instant, including the instant that precedes the present instant. In sort, the instant offers 'an absolute beginning.

Bachelard, ignoring these various difficulties, has his own contention to make. This is that the instant -far from being the product of arbitrary intervention, a mere artefact of the spirit of calculation is, quite to the contrary, the source of novelty in human experience. Thus he speaks of 'the elan furnished by the radical novelty of instants' (II, 65). More strongly still, he maintains that the novel and the instantaneous co-imply each other: not only is it the case that 'novelty is clearly always instantaneous'( II, 31), but the instant itself is always novel forever new, always different, unremissibly other than any other instant, including the instant that precedes the present instant. In sort, the instant offers 'an absolute beginning'( II, 66: 'un commencement absolu').

is representative of a radical new start in each iterations, launching a new event in the history of the world, setting it out to develop on its own. This event comes from nowhere, even if it going somewhere from that moment on.

By this Bachelard means not just that no instant can repeat another instant in its content or character but that each instant represents a radical new start is 'aboriginal,' ab origo. It launches a new event in the history of the world, setting it out to develop on its own. This event comes from nowhere, even if it going somewhere from that moment on. (net)

's momentary beauty is the only thing in the universe which accords with the deepest desire of our souls.

The momentary beauty of the instant is the only thing in the universe which accords with the deepest desire of our souls.

instant, n.All

instant