Consciousness and intuition in Henri Bergson’s thought: a prospective look

Abstract

The present work aims to debate some considerations about the development of intuition in Henri Bergson’s thought. In forwarding these considerations, it proved necessary to consider intelligence in its functionality in order to reflect to what extent intelligent activity, as thought by Bergson, was a condition for the development of this other vital activity, intuition, which has been updated, even how sparse and fleeting, in this species that has become intelligent. Along the way, it was highlighted that both intelligent and intuitive activities, originally in a virtual state of consciousness not yet differentiated in their practices, are updated within life as original movements of vital organization. It was also emphasized that, even though they are different in their own activities, they share a common origin, from which they never separate because they are both tasks of consciousness that life has effect on itself. What was revealed was that intelligence evolved to be a predominant, although not exclusive, activity in the exercise of consciousness that became distinctly human. Intuitive consciousness, not being of the first order in vital organization due to the practical needs that organized life encountered in its trajectory, is effective, when possible, through individual efforts aimed at widespread application. However, it always remains contained by the vital urges ongoing in this species, characterized by intelligence. The exercise proposed in this work was based on a bibliographical assessment of Bergson’s works, with the current comments being an effort to bring out the conditions of implementation, in their divergences and complementarities, of this vital organization process that becomes conscious.