A Reconstruction of Gilles Deleuze’s Contribution in Einstein-Bergson Debate

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy of time can enhance our understanding of the central themes arising from the famous 1922 debate between Albert Einstein and Henri Bergson on the nature of time, as well as Bergson’s critique of Einstein in Duration and Simultaneity. To achieve this goal, the paper begins with a review of Einstein’s theory of relativity, Bergson’s critique of it, and a summary of Deleuze’s theory of time as appears in Difference and Repetition. Subsequently, it explores Deleuze’s call in Bergsonism to investigate the metaphysics of the theory of relativity. It will be demonstrated that this metaphysics underlies the incorporation of a concept of time that, diverging from the measured time found in physical formulas, fundamentally alters the physical paradigm itself. Finally, the paper examines how Deleuze’s own metaphysical framework contributes to the demands of this physical theory.