The Concept of Nature: The Tarner Lectures Delivered in Trinity College, November 1919Whitehead, Alfred North
Philosophy
The Concept of Nature: The Tarner Lectures Delivered in Trinity College, November 1919
Whitehead, Alfred North
Knowledge, Theory of; Nature; Science -- Philosophy
The spatio-temporal measurableness of nature arises from (i) the
relation of extension between events, and (ii) the stratified character
of nature arising from each of the alternative time-systems, and (iii)
rest and motion, as exhibited in the relations of finite events to
time-systems. None of these sources of measurement depend on the
physical characters of finite events as exhibited by the situated
objects. They are completely signified for events whose physical
characters are unknown. Thus the spatio-temporal measurements are
independent of the objectival physical characters. Furthermore the
character of our knowledge of a whole duration, which is essentially
derived from the significance of the part within the immediate field of
discrimination, constructs it for us as a uniform whole independent, so
far as its extension is concerned, of the unobserved characters of
remote events. Namely, there is a definite whole of nature,
simultaneously now present, whatever may be the character of its remote
events. This consideration reinforces the previous conclusion. This
conclusion leads to the assertion of the essential uniformity of the
momentary spaces of the various time-systems, and thence to the
uniformity of the timeless spaces of which there is one to each
time-system.
The analysis of the general character of observed nature set forth above
affords explanations of various fundamental observational facts: (α) It
explains the differentiation of the one quality of extension into time
and space. (β) It gives a meaning to the observed facts of geometrical
and temporal position, of geometrical and temporal order, and of
geometrical straightness and planeness. (γ) It selects one definite
system of congruence embracing both space and time, and thus explains
the concordance as to measurement which is in practice attained. (δ) It
explains (consistently with the theory of relativity) the observed
phenomena of rotation, _e.g._ Foucault's pendulum, the equatorial bulge
of the earth, the fixed senses of rotation of cyclones and anticyclones,
and the gyro-compass. It does this by its admission of definite
stratifications of nature which are disclosed by the very character of
our knowledge of it. (ε) Its explanations of motion are more
fundamental than those expressed in (δ); for it explains what is meant
by motion itself. The observed motion of an extended object is the
relation of its various situations to the stratification of nature
expressed by the time-system fundamental to the observation. This motion
expresses a real relation of the object to the rest of nature. The
quantitative expression of this relation will vary according to the
time-system selected for its expression.
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