A multi-timescale interpretation of Bergson’s theory of pure memory

This paper, based on Hirai (2022), proposes a “Multi-Timescale” (MTS) interpretation of Henri Bergson’s theory of pure memory (mémoire pure). The main focus is Bergson’s Preservation-in-Itself Thesis (PII), the claim that past experiences persist without relying on stored neural traces. Traditional trace-based memory theories are criticized by Bergson for neglecting the phenomenal component of remembering and failing to account for genuine temporal extension. To address these issues, I introduce a concept of “Trans-Timescale” (TTS) systems, characterized by multiple coexisting timescales ranging from perceptual immediacy to an individual’s lifespan. In such a framework, experiences preserved at longer timescales remain contemporaneous with shorter timescales, thereby explaining the direct phenomenological connection to the past. This approach positions Bergson’s theory as a genuine alternative to contemporary trace-based and simulationist models of memory. By systematically reconstructing Bergson’s arguments within an MTS framework, this paper seeks to provide a coherent philosophical and empirical grounding for pure memory, opening avenues for dialogue between Bergson’s philosophy and contemporary theories of memory.