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Process & Reality: Alfred North Whitehead, Process Philosophy, and Organic Realism

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Mar 10, 2022

Guest

Matthew David Segall

In a fascinating conversation, Matthew Segall, an Assistant Professor and expert on Alfred North Whitehead, dives deep into process philosophy and its interplay with Marxism, Buddhism, and ecological perspectives. He critiques scientific materialism, advocating for organic realism, and discusses the evolution of beliefs from skepticism to spiritual awareness. Segall also analyzes consciousness through pan-experientialism, emphasizing interconnectedness and exploring the relationship between philosophy and spirituality. His insights challenge us to rethink our approach to modern existential crises.

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ANECDOTE

McKenna's Influence

Matthew Segall's interest in Whitehead began with Terrence McKenna's lectures.
McKenna's discussion of concrescence and creative advance sparked Segall's curiosity.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Principia Mathematica

Whitehead, a mathematician, collaborated with Bertrand Russell on Principia Mathematica.
This project aimed to establish logical foundations for arithmetic but ultimately encountered limitations highlighted by Gödel's incompleteness theorems.

insights

INSIGHT

Process vs. Substance

Whitehead's process philosophy emphasizes change as fundamental to reality.
This contrasts with substance-based ontologies that focus on static being, influenced by quantum theory's rejection of inert particles.

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Journeys Through Philosophy and Psychedelics

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Philosophy, Spirituality, and the Legacy of Whitehead

13:53 • 30min

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Consciousness and Cosmology: Exploring Interconnectedness

44:19 • 19min

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Critique of Scientific Materialism and the Case for Organic Realism

01:03:31 • 5min

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The Evolution of Individual Beliefs in Relation to Collective Humanity

01:08:15 • 5min

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Exploring Organic Realism and Political Ideologies

01:13:43 • 24min

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Philosophy and the Interconnected Self

01:37:57 • 21min

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Journey of Observations: The Passenger Perspective

Alfred North Whitehead

In 'Adventures of Ideas,' Alfred North Whitehead delves into two main themes: the effect of certain ideas in promoting the slow drift of mankind towards civilization, and the author's own adventure in framing a speculative scheme of ideas to explain this historical process. The book is part of Whitehead's broader project to reestablish metaphysics, addressing challenges from sensationalist and positivist views. It discusses key concepts such as the subject-object relationship, the role of 'occasions of experience,' and the ideals of civilization including Truth, Beauty, Art, Adventure, and Peace.

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Religion in the making

Alfred North Whitehead

This book, originating from four lectures delivered in King's Chapel, Boston, in February 1926, examines the relationship between human nature and religion. Whitehead rejects dogma and explores the connection between religious transformation and the transformation of knowledge. He encourages readers to develop a conception of faith that is compatible with the changing nature of experience. The book analyzes the emergence of religion through stages such as ritual, emotion, belief, and rationalization, and it discusses the contribution of religious knowledge to metaphysics. Whitehead also critiques traditional religious dogma and advocates for a more dynamic and adaptive understanding of faith.

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The world as will and representation

Arthur Schopenhauer

The book is divided into four parts. The first part addresses the world as representation, the second details the world as will, the third discusses art and beauty as the only way to transcend the painful human condition, and the fourth discusses ethics and the ascetic ideal. Schopenhauer argues that the will is the underlying reality of the world, beyond mere appearances, and that it is characterized by ceaseless striving and suffering.

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Process and Reality

Alfred North Whitehead

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Science and the modern world

Alfred North Whitehead

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Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature

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Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling

Friedrich Schelling's "Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature" is a seminal work in German Idealism, exploring the relationship between nature and spirit. Schelling posits a dynamic interplay between these two realms, viewing nature as a manifestation of spirit's self-development. He emphasizes the concept of Naturphilosophie, a philosophy of nature that seeks to understand the organic unity and interconnectedness of the natural world. The book's influence is significant, shaping the thinking of subsequent idealists like Hegel and impacting the development of romanticism. Its exploration of nature's creative power and its inherent dynamism continues to resonate with contemporary ecological thought.

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Religion and Human Evolution

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Robert Bella

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Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead

Anne Fairchild Pomeroy

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Critique of pure reason

Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" is a monumental work in philosophy that revolutionized epistemology and metaphysics. It explores the limits of human reason and the conditions under which knowledge is possible. Kant argues that our experience is shaped by inherent structures of the mind, known as categories of understanding. The book delves into the nature of space, time, and causality, and how these concepts structure our perception of the world. Its influence on subsequent philosophical thought is immeasurable, shaping debates on knowledge, morality, and the nature of reality.

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Varieties of Religious Experience

William James

This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion. James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness. He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices. The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature.

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Phenomenology of spirit

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

In 'Phenomenology of Spirit', Hegel outlines the fundamental nature and conditions of human knowledge and consciousness. The work is structured into several categories, including consciousness, self-consciousness, reason, spirit, religion, and absolute knowing. Hegel argues that knowledge emerges through a dialectical process where consciousness moves from sense-certainty to perception and then to understanding. He also examines the social and collective aspects of consciousness, highlighting the struggle for recognition and the development of self-awareness. The book culminates in the concept of absolute knowing, where the subject and object are unified, and the individual is fully integrated into the collective spirit.

Matthew Segall is Assistant Professor in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and is an expert of German Idealism and the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Matthew joins Breht for a wide-ranging conversation on the philosophy of Aflred Whitehead, pan-experientialism, dialectics, organic realism, Marxism, Buddhism, materialism v. idealism, criticism of scientific materialism, nature mysticism, philosophy of mind, and much, much more! Learn more about Matthew and his work: https://footnotes2plato.com/

Gaian Reality After the Virus: https://matthewsegall.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/updated-segall-imagining-a-gaian-reality-after-the-virus.pdf

Outro Music: "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop

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