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Work #406 · Late

Modes of Thought

Alfred North Whitehead
1938 (Wellesley & University of Chicago lectures, 1937-38) · English
Late philosophical lectures · Process philosophy / English-American metaphysics

Whitehead's 1938 late lectures on the modes of philosophical thinking — the most accessible introduction to his thought

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Modes of Thought (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Modes of Thought

Central — process-relational time.

Space

Modes of Thought

The relational space of nature and life.

Matter

Modes of Thought

The actual occasions of process metaphysics.

Observer

Modes of Thought

The experiencing actual occasion.

Energy

Modes of Thought

Creative-process energies.

Information

Modes of Thought

Late process-philosophical synthesis.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Modes of Thought

Whitehead's process philosophy in continuing dialogue with analytic-metaphysical mainstream.