Quantum Mechanics and the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead (American Philosophy Series, No. 14)

In Process and Reality and other works, Alfred North Whitehead struggled to come to terms with the impact the new science of quantum mechanics would have on metaphysics. This ambitious book is the first extended analysis of the intricate relationships between relativity theory, quantum mechanics, and Whitehead's cosmology. Michael Epperson illuminates the intersection of science and philosophy in Whitehead's work-and details Whitehead's attempts to fashion an ontology coherent with quantum anomalies. Including a nonspecialist introduction to quantum mechanics, Epperson adds an essential new dimension to our understanding of Whitehead-and of the constantly enriching encounter between science and philosophy in our century. "This book is the first extended analysis of the intricate relationships between relativity theory, quantum mechanics, and Whitehead's cosmological scheme." "Moving systematically - concept by concept, phase by phase - Michael Epperson illuminates the intersection of science and philosophy in Whitehead's work. He details Whitehead's struggles to fashion an ontology that would be coherent with quantum anomalies, one that can reshape the sense of strangeness or inconceivability of many important physical notions." "Including a nonspecialist introduction to quantum mechanics, Epperson adds an essential new dimension to our understanding of the architecture and meaning of Whitehead's metaphysics - and of the constantly enriching encounter of science and philosophy in our century."--BOOK JACKET. Frontmatter Preface (page ix) 1. Introduction (page 1) I. THE PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS 2. The Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (page 25) 3. The Evolution of Actuality to Probability (page 61) Interlude: The Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead (page 105) II. QUANTUM MECHINACS AND WHITEHEAD'S METAPHYSICS SCHEME 4. The Correlation of Quantum Mechanics and Whitehead's Philosophy (page 119) 5. Spatiotemporal Extension (page 164) 6. Summary and Outlook (page 222) Works Cited (page 245) Index (page 249) This Is An Extended Analysis Of The Intricate Relationships Between Relativity Theory, Quantum Mechanics And Alfred North Whitehead's Cosmology. Michael Epperson Illuminates The Intersection Of Science And Philosophy In Whitehead's Work.