Perhaps that is the fault of a deficient classical education, rather than the merit (or lack thereof) of Bergson's ideas? To extrapolate from your example argument, there are thousands of historical figures you have never heard of. And yet, their decisions and actions have had a profound effect upon trajectory of history, and the way the world appears to you today. Are they unimportant just because you have yet to personally learn about them?

Or perhaps it is a lack of imagination: Bergson was certainly a large part of the intellectual milieu in which Einstein was working. His thoughts pushed Einstein in certain directions Einstein might not have gone otherwise. Even if Bergson is unremarkable for his own work, surely he is important for no other reason than his impact on the thought of the remarkable and memorable theories of Einstein?

Taking 'I haven't hear of them' as your starting point of historical importance seems like an intellectually lazy argument to me. Each to their own, however, and you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

> Perhaps that is the fault of a deficient classical education, rather than the merit (or lack thereof) of Bergson's ideas?

My point was not about merit, it was about cultural impact.

But having had some time to think about it, I'm probably wrong. Kuhn's concept of the "paradigm shift" is more recent than Bergson. While not directly challenging a specific theory the way Bergson did, it has certainly captured the imagination of the public and of scientists.

That said, it seems that Bergon's star has faded over time. I looked up a few lists of the most influential modern philosophers and he is not usually highly ranked.

In many cases, post-modernist philosophers (theorists) don't make arguments; on the other hand the effect their ideas have had on mass culture has been immensely pervasive. I would rather use the word insidious but that's another matter.