Bergson, Complexity and Creative Emergence

David Kreps is a sociologist of technology and philosopher of science. He is Senior Editor of the journal Information Technology and People, author of papers and conference presentations on social Information systems, and is editor of Gramsci and Foucault: A Reassessment.

• 1. Introduction2. Bergson's Core Ideas3. Bergson Redux4. Systems Theory Grows Up5. Durée Compléxe6. Creative Emergence

'This is no ordinary introduction to Henri Bergson. What David Kreps' excellent study gives us is Bergson, complexe: first, because there is no simple way to take (or leave) Bergson's ideas his thought of durée, élan, and 'multiplicity' demands the most subtle and nuanced reading to give them their full justice; and second, because only by intertwining his ideas with the most up-to-date research in systems thinking, complexity theory, and poststructuralism can we begin to understand their absolute contemporaneity. Kreps' work does all this and more it gives us the Bergson we need for today.'-John Mullarkey, author of Bergson and Philosophy'Kreps' book is a thoroughly researched and well-written work that shows how Bergson's philosophy of evolution and time can also reinvigorate our ideas about complexity and organization in the natural and physical sciences.'-Stephen Crocker, author of Bergson and the Metaphysics of Media