The Philosophical Advantages of Whitehead's Physics: Explanation as Primary

A. N. Whitehead's approach to physical theorizing contrasts with that of mainstream or official (modern) physics in being centrally concerned with articulating a background explanation of physical facts and phenomena in general that would take the place of the "ether" of classical phy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Process studies
Main Author: Athearn, Daniel 1951- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Illinois Press 2022
In: Process studies
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Whitehead, Alfred North 1861-1947 / Physics
RelBib Classification:TK Recent history
VA Philosophy
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Summary:A. N. Whitehead's approach to physical theorizing contrasts with that of mainstream or official (modern) physics in being centrally concerned with articulating a background explanation of physical facts and phenomena in general that would take the place of the "ether" of classical physics, a project otherwise unpursued by the science in its modern period (though luminaries in the field have occasionally hinted at reviving this kind of explanation under certain constraints). Unlike Einstein's, Whitehead's approach to relativity primarily seeks explanation rather than utility (in formulating laws); also, it avoids the philosophical problems with Einstein's theory alleged by Whitehead and a range of other philosophers. This stops short of a finding as to the comparative worth of Whitehead's alternative basis for quantitative formulations.
ISSN:2154-3682
Contains:Enthalten in: Process studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5406/21543682.51.1.05