BERGSON S CONCEPTION OF DURATION 195 



the mistaken idea of a homogeneous inner duration, similar to space, 

 the moments of which are identical and follow without penetrating 

 one another." 



There is a real space aside from duration where phenomena appear 

 and disappear simultaneously with our states of consciousness, and 

 Simultaneity Is there is a real duration, the heterogeneous moments 

 the Link be- of which permeate each other. Each moment is con- 

 tween Duration temporaneous with a state in the external world, and 

 "* ^^'^^ can be brought into relation with it; and because of this, 

 it can be separated from the other moments. Because these two 

 reahties are compared, we get a symbolical representation of duration 

 derived from space. The connecting link between space and duration 

 is simultaneity, or the intersection of time and space. 



In analyzing motion, which is the hving symbol of this seemingly 

 homogeneous duration, we shall make a similar distinction. There 

 are two elements in motion: the space traversed, which is homo- 

 geneous and divisible, and the act of traversing, indivisible and 

 real only for consciousness. The successive positions of the moving 

 body really do occupy space, but the process of moving from one posi- 

 tion to another occupies duration and eludes space, and is not real 

 except to the conscious spectator. Motion is a progress, and is 

 therefore unextended and psychic. This confusion between motion 

 and the space traversed gives rise to the paradoxes of Zeno. There 

 is no necessity to resort to metaphysical hypotheses about the nature 

 Science Would ^^ space, time, and motion, when we know through 

 Not Need to intuition that motion is within duration, and duration 

 Change Its ig outside of space. The movements of bodies cannot 

 °™ ^^ f th * occupy space, for they are duration rather than extent, 

 Universe Were quaUty rather than quantity ; but science has to elimi- 

 Faster or nate mobiUty from motion and duration from time before 



Slower jj. ^^^ ^g^j -wiih them. Science cannot take account of 



the interval of duration; for instance, if all the motions of the universe 

 were twice as fast, no change would be necessary in formulae or figures. 

 Science would never be able to notice the change — it would be per- 

 ceptible to duration only. 



