The role of intuition in the thought of Tran Duc Thao and Henri Bergson

Abstract

Intuition, deriving from the Latin word “Intuitere,” refers to a form of immediate knowledge, and therefore, it is a type of knowledge that is self-evident. This term holds a central position in Descartes’ theory of knowledge, where the foundational principle of his method is to establish all knowledge based on fundamental evidence, known through intuition. Descartes’ famous assertion, “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”), exemplifies such a form of knowledge, where certainty about one’s existence is attained through intuition. Hence, intuition is a primary factor intricately tied to inference. In the realm of philosophy, intuition assumes particular significance as it challenges the predominance of reason and logic in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. While Western philosophy from the mid-19th century often favored the rationality and scientific methods of empirical philosophy, some philosophers sought to restore intuition as a legitimate source of understanding the world.