Making Memory Matter
Barry Allen
May 18, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197671610.003.0003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Bergson's concepts of the virtual, perception as virtual action, and memory as virtual experience offer an alternative to standard psychology and philosophy: memories are not stored traces but express the past's ongoing effectiveness in the present. The chapter also presents Bergson's panpsychism, his critique of chaos and nothingness, and implications for entropy and quantum entanglement. |
Abstract
Abstract In Matter and Memory, Bergson introduces theories of perception and memory that feature his concept of the virtual. Perception is virtual action and memory is virtual experience. Virtual existence is the mode of being common to tendencies, dispositions, generalities, and habits, as well as memories and the past itself. Bergson’s theory of memory is an alternative to practically everything psychology and philosophy have said on this topic. Memories are not traces, an inappropriate spatial concept; instead, they express the effectiveness of the past in the present. The chapter details Bergson’s ideas on the mind-body problem, the relation of brain and consciousness, his unique panpsychism, his critique of notions of chaos and nothingness, and implications of his arguments for physical thought on entropy and quantum entanglement.