Quantum mechanics and the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead / by Michael Epperson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Epperson, Michael, author.

Series:

American Philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861-1947.

Whitehead, Alfred North.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 261 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York : Fordham University Press, 2018.

Summary:

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.Quantum Mechanics and the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead is available from the publisher on an open-access basis.

Contents:

Cover

Quantum Mechanics and the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead

Title

Copyright

CONTENTS

Preface

1. Introduction

I. THE PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS

2. The Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

Bohr's Strategy: "Complementarity" as Evidence of an Unknowable Objective Reality

Von Neumann's Alternative to Bohr's Epistemic Schism: Objective Reality via a Coherent Ontological Interpretation

Closed Systems

The Ontological Significance of Potentia

3. The Evolution of Actuality to Probability

The Formal Description of Quantum Mechanical State Evolution

Decoherence

Three Benefits of This Ontological Interpretation of the Quantum Formalism

Summary

Interlude: The Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead

II. QUANTUM MECHANICS AND WHITEHEAD'S METAPHYSICAL SCHEME

4. The Correlation of Quantum Mechanics and Whitehead's Philosophy

The Phases of Quantum Mechanical Concrescence

The Categoreal Obligations

5. Spatiotemporal Extension

Coordinate Division and Genetic Division

Coordinate Division and the Decomposition of Invariant Spacetime Intervals

Empirical Adequacy and the Constancy of the Velocity of Light

Coordinate Extensive Relations and Genetic Historical Relations: The Dipolarity of Relativity Theory and Quantum Mechanics

The Issue of Absolute Spacetime and Alternative Conceptions

The Dipolar Cooperation of Coordinate and Genetic Division

The Dipolarity of Publicity and Privacy

The Abstractive Geometrical Scheme Underlying Extensive Connection

Facts and Forms: Durations and Loci

6. Summary and Outlook

Appendix

Works Cited

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780823283064

0823283062

OCLC:

1057699317