Science and the modern worldWhitehead, Alfred North
Religion
Science and the modern world
Whitehead, Alfred North
Science
Yet another element in the metaphysical situation is disclosed by the
consideration that the general attribute of modality is limited. This
element must rank as an attribute of the substantial activity. In its
nature each mode is limited, so as not to be other modes. But, beyond
these limitations of particulars, the general modal individualisation is
limited in two ways: In the first place it is an actual course of
events, which might be otherwise so far as concerns eternal possibility,
but _is_ that course. This limitation takes three forms, (i) the special
logical relations which all events must conform to, (ii) the selection
of relationships to which the events do conform, and (iii) the
particularity which infects the course even within those general
relationships of logic and causation. Thus this first limitation is a
limitation of antecedent selection. So far as the general metaphysical
situation is concerned, there might have been an indiscriminate modal
pluralism apart from logical or other limitation. But there could not
then have been these modes, for each mode represents a synthesis of
actualities which are limited to conform to a standard. We here come to
the second way of limitation. Restriction is the price of value. There
cannot be value without antecedent standards of value, to discriminate
the acceptance or rejection of what is before the envisaging mode of
activity. Thus there is an antecedent limitation among values,
introducing contraries, grades, and oppositions.
According to this argument the fact that there is a process of actual
occasions, and the fact that the occasions are the emergence of values
which require such limitation, both require that the course of events
should have developed amid an antecedent limitation composed of
conditions, particularisation, and standards of value.
Thus as a further element in the metaphysical situation, there is
required a principle of limitation. Some particular _how_ is necessary,
and some particularisation in the _what_ of matter of fact is necessary.
The only alternative to this admission, is to deny the reality of actual
occasions. Their apparent irrational limitation must be taken as a proof
of illusion and we must look for reality behind the scene. If we reject
this alternative behind the scene, we must provide a ground for
limitation which stands among the attributes of the substantial
activity. This attribute provides the limitation for which no reason can
be given: for all reason flows from it. God is the ultimate limitation,
and His existence is the ultimate irrationality. For no reason can be
given for just that limitation which it stands in His nature to impose.
God is not concrete, but He is the ground for concrete actuality. No
reason can be given for the nature of God, because that nature is the
ground of rationality.
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