Alfred North Whitehead, Philosopher Of Time

Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) was a mathematician and logician who wrote about the nature of the world and its temporal flow. He believed that everyday terms distorted reality and invented or borrowed terms more appropriate to his project. His most famous work, Process and Reality (1929), introduced his vision of nature as a succession of crystallizations, each of which proves the finite granularity of time. This perspective allows for creative novelties, but necessitates that the world cooperates with a deity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2022
Publisher: World Scientific Europe Ltd

Alfred North Whitehead, a mathematician and logician by training, produced groundbreaking works that blurred the boundaries between science and philosophy. His profound exploration delved into the essence of the world around us and its temporal flow. Convinced that everyday terms often distort reality, Whitehead coined or borrowed terms more suitable for his project. One of his most influential concepts is the word "Process," which serves as the title of his renowned work "Process and Reality" (1929). At the heart of Whitehead's philosophy lies the notion of nature as a continuous process of crystallization, each step revealing the finite granularity of time. He rejected the existence of the instantaneous moment, emphasizing instead the continuous flow of time. This perspective challenged the theories of relativity and quantum physics, offering a unique metaphysical framework. While Whitehead's ideas opened up possibilities for creative innovations, they also necessitated the involvement of a divine entity. In the final chapter of the book, the author examines the role of this deity within his philosophical framework. "Alfred North Whitehead, Philosopher of Time" blends biographical details with intellectual breakthroughs, encompassing logicism and philosophies of nature. This book serves as an accessible introduction to Whitehead's complex work, deciphering a metaphysical landscape that is often perceived as abstract but highlights the philosopher's limitations in keeping up with the scientific advancements of his time.

ISBN-13: 9781800611771