Physics and Whitehead: Quantum, Process, and Experience

by Eastman, Timothy E.; Keeton, Hank

• ISBN13: 9780791459140
• ISBN10: 0791459144
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

Featuring discussions and dialogue by prominent scientists and philosophers, this book explores the rich interface of contemporary physics and Whitehead-inspired process thought. The contributors share the conviction that quantum physics not only corroborates many of Whitehead's philosophical theses, but is also illuminated by them. Thus, though differing in perspective or emphasis, the contributions by Geoffrey Chew, David Finkelstein, Henry Stapp and other scientists conceptually dovetail with those of Philip Clayton, Jorge Luis Nobo, Yutaka Tanaka and other process philosophers.

Table of Contents

Preface
Series Introduction
Introduction to Process Thought	p. 3
Duality without Dualism	p. 14
Whitehead as Mathematical Physicist	p. 31
Evidence for Process in the Physical World	p. 47
Dialogue for Part I	p. 57
Constraints on the Origin of Coherence in Far-from-Equilibrium Chemical Systems	p. 63
Whitehead's Philosophy and the Collapse of Quantum States	p. 74
A Historical Reality That Includes Big Bang, Free Will, and Elementary Particles	p. 84
Whiteheadian Process and Quantum Theory	p. 92
Dialogue for Part II	p. 103
The Primacy of Asymmetry over Symmetry in Physics	p. 129
Spacetime and Becoming: Overcoming the Contradiction Between Special Relativity and the Passage of Time	p. 136
The Individuality of a Quantum Event: Whitehead's Epochal Theory of Time and Bohr's Framework of Complementarity	p. 164
Physical Process and Physical Law	p. 180
Dialogue for Part III	p. 187
Whitehead's Process Philosophy as Scientific Metaphysics	p. 199
Whitehead and the Quantum Experience	p. 223
Dialogue for Part IV	p. 258
Glossary	p. 275
Bibliography	p. 287
Contributors	p. 299
Note on Supporting Center	p. 303
Index	p. 305
SUNY Series in Constructive Postmodern Thought	p. 321
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.