Henri Bergson and Why You Feel Less Free Than You Think

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Why do so many people feel rushed, rigid and disconnected from themselves?

In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by writer and philosopher Emily Herring to explore the life and ideas of Henri Bergson, once the most famous philosopher in the world.

We discuss Bergson’s ideas on time, freedom, memory, intuition, laughter and why modern life can often feel increasingly mechanical.

Emily explains how we often mistake clock time for lived experience, habit for freedom, and concepts for reality.

We also explore Bergson’s clashes with Einstein and Bertrand Russell, the meaning of élan vital, mysticism, and whether technology is advancing faster than our moral development.

A thoughtful and surprisingly relevant conversation about how to stay human in an increasingly mechanical world.

Topics include:

Henri Bergson explained simply
Time: lived time vs clock time
Freedom and free will
Memory and consciousness
Intuition beyond fixed concepts
Why laughter matters
Bergson vs Einstein
Bergson vs Bertrand Russell
Élan vital and creativity
Technology, algorithms and modern life

Guest:
Emily Herring is a writer based in Paris. She studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and received her PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Leeds.

She is the author of Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People - the first biography of Bergson in English.

Check out her website for more.

Online Meditation Sessions:
Second and fourth Sundays, 10:30am UK
If you're interested in joining, send Marc a message on Instagram

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Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller

Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special here

Episode 9: Emily Herring

Episode 8: Rob Copland