Duration (philosophy)

In philosophy, "duration" (French: durée) is a concept most famously developed by the French philosopher Henri Bergson. It refers to the continuous, heterogeneous flow of time as it is immediately and subjectively experienced by consciousness. It stands in contrast to a spatialized or conceptualized notion of time, which Bergson refers to as "clock time" or "scientific time."

Unlike objective, measurable time, which can be divided into discrete units and arranged linearly, duration is characterized by its qualitative and indivisible nature. It is a process of constant becoming, where past, present, and future interpenetrate and inform one another. Each moment of duration is unique and carries with it the cumulative weight of one's entire past experience.

Key characteristics of Bergsonian duration include:

• Heterogeneity: Duration is not composed of identical, interchangeable units. Each moment is qualitatively different from every other.
• Continuity: Duration is a seamless flow, without distinct boundaries or breaks. It is an unbroken process of becoming.
• Irreversibility: Time in duration flows in one direction only. Past moments cannot be retrieved in their original form, as they are integrated into the present.
• Subjectivity: Duration is fundamentally linked to individual consciousness. It is the way time is experienced from the inside, as opposed to how it is measured externally.
• Memory: Memory is not simply a repository of past events but an active force that shapes the present moment of duration. The past is preserved and dynamically influences our current experience.
• Becoming: Duration is a constant process of change and novelty. It is not a static state but a dynamic movement.

Bergson argued that focusing solely on spatialized time leads to a distorted understanding of reality, as it reduces lived experience to abstract concepts and static representations. By emphasizing duration, he sought to capture the richness and dynamism of consciousness and the true nature of reality as a continuous process of becoming. His work has influenced various fields, including psychology, literature, and art, by offering a unique perspective on the nature of time and experience.