[A Disagreement in the Context of Consciousness, Self and Free Will: Nurettin Top？u’s Criticisms towards Bergson Regarding the Incompatibility Between Pure-Duration Indeterminism and Freedom]

Abstract: This paper aims to analyze Nurettin Top？u’s criticisms towards Bergson’s thoughts regarding the incompatibility between freedom and indeterminism. Top？u’s approach to freedom is not compatible with indeterminism. Thus, we first examine Bergson’s theory of freedom. Bergson’s theory of freedom relies on his ideas on time and space. Therefore, we focus on his perception of time and space. After that, we try to analyze Bergson’s criticisms of free will and determinism besides his theory of freedom. Bergson supports the view that the compatibility between determinism and freedom is not possible; therefore, he adopts a theory of freedom based on pure duration. Pure-duration has an indeterminable nature. Nurettin Top？u’s basic objection to Bergson’s view on freedom grounds upon pure duration. According to Top？u, freedom is not accordant with pure-duration indeterminism. We analyze his criticisms in two parts: The first part is about Top？u’s criticisms of Bergson’s thought on “self.” The second part is about Top？u’s criticisms of Bergson’s thought on “creativity.” Hence, Top？u’s criticisms that we examine in this paper, consist of three subjects: Duration, self and creativity