An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural Knowledge

This important book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the relationship between science and philosophy.

A. N. Whitehead (Author)

9781107600126, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 June 2011

222 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.29 kg

Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) was a prominent English mathematician and philosopher who co-authored the highly influential Principia Mathematica with Bertrand Russell. Originally published in 1919, and first republished in 1925 as this Second Edition, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural Knowledge ranks among Whitehead's most important works; forming a perspective on scientific observation that incorporated a complex view of experience, rather than prioritising the position of 'pure' sense data. Alongside companion volumes The Concept of Nature (1920) and The Principle of Relativity (1922), it created a framework for Whitehead's later metaphysical speculations. This is an important book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the relationship between science and philosophy.

Part I. The Traditions of Science: 1. Meaning
2. The foundations of dynamical physics
3. Scientific relativity
4. Congruence
Part II. The Data of Science: 5. The natural elements
6. Events
7. Objects
Part III. The Method of Extensive Abstraction: 8. Principles of the method of extensive abstraction
9. Durations, moments and time-systems
10. Finite abstractive elements
11. Points and straight lines
12. Normality and congruence
13. Motion
Part IV. The Theory of Objects: 14. The location of objects
15. Material objects
16. Causal components
17. Figures
18. Rhythms
Notes.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA]