Science and the modern worldWhitehead, Alfred North
Religion
Science and the modern world
Whitehead, Alfred North
Science
Thus an actual occasion is a prehension of one infinite hierarchy (its
associated hierarchy) together with various finite hierarchies. The
synthesis into the occasion of the infinite hierarchy is according to
its specific mode of realisation, and that of the finite hierarchies is
according to various other specific modes of realisation. There is one
metaphysical principle which is essential for the rational coherence of
this account of the general character of an experient occasion. I call
this principle, ‘The Translucency of Realisation.’ By this I mean that
any eternal object is just itself in whatever mode of realisation it is
involved. There can be no distortion of the individual essence without
thereby producing a different eternal object. In the essence of each
eternal object there stands an indeterminateness which expresses its
indifferent patience for any mode of ingression into any actual
occasion. Thus in cognitive experience, there can be the cognition of
the same eternal object as in the same occasion having ingression with
implication in more than one grade of realisation. Thus the translucency
of realisation, and the possible multiplicity of modes of ingression
into the same occasion, together form the foundation for the
correspondence theory of truth.
In this account of an actual occasion in terms of its connection with
the realm of eternal objects, we have gone back to the train of thought
in our second chapter, where the nature of mathematics was discussed.
The idea, ascribed to Pythagoras, has been amplified, and put forward as
the first chapter in metaphysics. The next chapter is concerned with the
puzzling fact that there is an actual course of events which is in
itself a limited fact, in that metaphysically speaking it might have
been otherwise. But other metaphysical investigations are omitted; for
example, epistemology, and the classification of some elements in the
unfathomable wealth of the field of possibility. This last topic brings
metaphysics in sight of the special topics of the various sciences.
CHAPTER XI
GOD
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account