We would be more honest if we talked about things in terms of 'becoming.' The notions centered around 'occasions of experience' is where you begin to recognize Whitehead's philosophy of process. And as such, we should not talk about 'beings', because nothing ever just 'is.' Everything changes- everything becomes something and then perishes into the past. No, it is rather events, big and small, as they slide in and out of the present, continually into the past- these are what existence is fundamentally made of. Not 'subjects' or 'substances' or 'matter' as various schools of Western metaphysics have offered. It also becomes clear in this chapter that, to Whitehead, 'occasions of experience' constitute the fundamental unit of existence. Suffice it to say, you should read about it more from someone other than me- but do check it out if intrigued. A follower of Whitehead's, Charles Hartshorne, has said the concept of 'prehension' is one of the great contributions to metaphysics in the 20th century. This essential 'structure of experience' allows Whitehead to expound on his notion of 'prehension,' which is the 'concern' or 'feeling' or 'affective tone' that a subject experiences when interacting with an object. 'The basis of experience is emotional,' or, what subjects normally experience is an 'affective tone' provoked or brought about by an object.
He feels that knowledge and conscious discrimination (indeed, consciousness itself) only present themselves in the more elaborate occasions of experience. The key chapter is Chapter 11, 'Objects and Subjects.' There, Whitehead challenges the pervasive characterization of the subject-object relationship as 'knower-known', and instead offers a characterization in which the subject experiences 'concern' (as the Quakers use that term) for an object. So, though Whitehead does reference historical events to illustrate aspects of his thought, this book is mainly a work of metaphysics. Many of these same people would argue that his system still stands as the best example of that branch of philosophy (he was writing about this stuff in the 1920s-1930s).Īdventures of Ideas, despite my opening synopsis, is typically recommended as the most accessible of the 3 books that articulate his system- the other two being Process and Reality and Science and the Modern World. That's a page-turner, right? In case you're not familiar, Alfred North Whitehead is sometimes known as the philosopher who first put forward a coherent, comprehensive metaphysical system that we would now term 'process philosophy'. I tore into it and didn't stop until I was finished with it. When it turned up last month in our black hole of a garage, I tore back into it, even though Blood Meridian was currently holding my interest, and, oh yeah, I was then living with a one-month old in my house. I had read Part I probably over a year ago, and was all amped to continue, when the book disappeared from the living room coffee table. I tore into it and didn't stop until I For a philosophical treatment of the effect of ideas' on history and culture, this book was a veritable page-turner. Whitehead and Whitehead's philosophy alike that invites its reader to. When it turned up last month in our black hole of a garage, I tore back into it, even though Blood Meridian was currently holding my interest, and, oh yeah, I was then living with a one-month old in my house.Įxplorations in Alfred North Whitehead’s Late Thought. For a philosophical treatment of the effect of ideas' on history and culture, this book was a veritable page-turner.
The other meaning is the author's adventure in framing a speculative scheme of ideas which shall be explanatory of the historical adventure. This is the Adventure of Ideas in the history of mankind. One meaning is the effect of certain ideas in promoting the slow drift of mankind towards civilization. The other meaning is the author's adventure in framing a speculative scheme of ideas which shall be explanato The title of this book, Adventures of Ideas, bears two meanings, both applicable to the subject-matter. The title of this book, Adventures of Ideas, bears two meanings, both applicable to the subject-matter.
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