3rd Arts & Humanities Conference, Barcelona

BODY AS A FOUNDATION OF PERCEPTION: HENRI BERGSON'S CRITIQUE OF THE 'TYRANNY' OF VISION

ANNA KUSZMIRUK

Abstract:

Confidence in the testimony of the eye is still general phenomenon. Nevertheless, the profound criticism of the tyranny of vision took place in the twentieth century. Philosophy as well as art and science examined the importance of sight. Henri Bergson was perhaps the first modern philosopher who questioned the primacy of vision. In Bergson's times laws of body was being opposed to the tyranny of the eye. Bergson contributed to steering philosophical inquiries into the subject of body understood as something connected with the awareness. French philosopher disagreed with those who saw body as an object which can be analysed from without for he believed that body is a foundation of our perception, essential for our activity in the world. Nevertheless, the sight is burdened with spatial images which falsify our immediate experience. For body is active while the eye contemplates. Bergson used the metaphor of cinematograph to demonstrate spatial mind and its limitations. As a result, claimed philosopher, we tend to grasp time in spatial categories, which is not identical to time which we experience. Therefore only participation in dureé can help us overcome our visual prejudices. Bergson's critique of the 'tyranny' of sight had an impact not only on philosophy but also on art and literature. We can observe reminiscences of his thought in works of imagists, cubists or in Paul Cézanne's art. Some say that even Marcel Duchamp was influenced by Bergson's critique.

Keywords: Bergson, body, vision, time, perception

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