To engage with the thought of Alfred North Whitehead is to move away from a world of "static things" and enter a universe of "dynamic transitions." In Process-Relational Philosophy (PRP), the fundamental building blocks of reality are not permanent substances, but fleeting, interconnected pulses of experience. The following concepts form the skeletal structure of Whitehead’s metaphysical system, primarily as articulated in his magnum opus, _Process and Reality_. --- ### 1. The Primacy of the "Actual Entity" At the heart of Whitehead’s system is the **Actual Entity** (also called an **Actual Occasion**). These are the final real things of which the world is made. Unlike the atoms of Democritus or the substances of Descartes, actual entities are not "bits" of matter that endure through time. Instead, they are drops of experience, complex and interdependent. They are the "micro-events" of the universe. Even God, in Whitehead's view, is an actual entity—the highest instantiation of the same metaphysical rules that govern a momentary puff of existence in deep space. ### 2. Concrescence: The Process of Becoming Whitehead famously remarked, _"The many become one, and are increased by one."_ This is the essence of **Concrescence**. Concrescence is the internal process by which an actual entity draws in the data of the universe and integrates it into a new, private unity. Every moment of your existence is a concrescence: you take the "many" influences of the past second and fuse them into the "one" unified experience of the present. Once this process is complete, the entity "perishes"—it loses its subjective immediacy and becomes an object for [[Future|future]] entities to experience. ### 3. Prehension: The Feeling of the Other In a process-relational framework, "relation" is more fundamental than "being." Whitehead uses the term **Prehension** to describe how one actual entity "grasps" or "feels" another. - **Positive Prehensions (Feelings):** The act of incorporating aspects of another entity into oneself. - **Negative Prehensions:** The act of excluding certain data from one's own becoming. Because every entity prehends the entire past universe, nothing is truly isolated. We are literally composed of our relations to everything else. This dissolves the hard boundary between "subject" and "object." ### 4. The Rejection of "Vacuous Materialism" Whitehead fiercely critiqued what he called the **Bifurcation of Nature**—the idea that the world is split between "mind" (values, colors, sounds) and "matter" (colorless, silent particles in motion). He argued that if we start with dead, mindless matter, we can never logically explain how life or [[Consciousness|consciousness]] emerges. Instead, PRP suggests that some level of "proto-experience" or [[Subjectivity|subjectivity]] exists at every level of reality. This is not necessarily "consciousness" in the human sense, but a basic capacity for "feeling" or responding to the environment. ### 5. Eternal Objects: The Realm of Possibility While the world is a flow of change, there must be "forms" or "qualities" that recur—the specific shade of a sunset, the mathematical ratio of a circle, or the quality of "courage." Whitehead calls these **Eternal Objects**. They do not "act" on their own; rather, they are "ingressed" into the world by actual entities. They represent the infinite realm of possibility that informs the specific, finite nature of the actual world. ### 6. The Creative Advance: The Ultimate If there is a "ground" to Whitehead’s philosophy, it is **Creativity**. It is the "Category of the Ultimate." Creativity is the drive of the universe to produce newness. It is the reason the universe does not simply repeat the past, but continually moves toward novel forms of order and intensity. --- ### Summary of the Framework |**Concept**|**Definition**|**Philosophical Role**| |---|---|---| |**Actual Entity**|The final real things; drops of experience.|Replaces "Substance."| |**Concrescence**|The process of many becoming one.|Explains "Change/Becoming."| |**Prehension**|The "feeling" or grasping of data.|Explains "Relation/Connection."| |**Creativity**|The inherent drive toward novelty.|The "Engine" of the Universe.| ### Implications and Synthesis By centering _relation_ over _substance_, Whitehead’s philosophy offers a profound bridge between the sciences and the humanities. It aligns with the interconnectedness of ecology, the indeterminacy of quantum mechanics, and the fluidity of human psychology. It suggests a universe that is not a machine to be mastered, but an organism in which we are participants. --- In the realm of philosophical thought, relational philosophy primarily focuses on understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence of various aspects of life. It emphasizes the importance of relationships between people, objects, and ideas, rather than examining them individually. This approach can be traced back to philosophers such as Heraclitus and Leibniz, who recognized the ever-changing nature of the world and the significance of relationships in shaping human experiences. The key premise of relational philosophy is that reality itself is not made up of separate, independent entities but is a complex [[Web|web]] of interconnected processes. One significant aspect of relational philosophy is the study of networks and systems. It explores how different components interrelate and influence each other, leading to various outcomes or patterns. This approach has been particularly influential in the fields of [[Sociology|sociology]], psychology, and ecology, where the interdependence of elements is crucial to understanding the dynamics of communities and ecosystems. Another key element of relational philosophy is the understanding of the mind as a relational process. It posits that the mind is not a collection of separate entities but an organic, interconnected system where thoughts, emotions, and experiences are intertwined and continuously shape one another. This perspective suggests that personal growth and development involve an ongoing process of self-reflection and adjustments in relationships. In summary, relational philosophy encourages a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the world by emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of various aspects of life. This approach not only contributes to the study of [[complex systems]], social interactions, and the human mind but also offers valuable insights into how people can cultivate healthier and more fulfilling relationships. --- Process philosophy, the ontology of becoming, holds processes to be the primary fundamental state in the physical world. Other durable objects are considered as axiological descendants, inferred from process. Change, defined as transient occasions of becoming, is asserted to be the only critical aspect of the material order. In other worldviews, substance takes priority and is considered a thing unto itself, with change as a secondary consideration. Heraclitus (‘you cannot step into the same river twice’), proposed that the underpinning of the universe is not a solid substance, but a turbulent fluctuation. Holding volatility to be basic, he believed that reality is a processural interchange for [[Fire|fire]], rather than a combination of items and that objects were representative of universal transience. Process thought describes reality as emergent, rather than as dialectic opposites. This allows for integrity, connectivity, interdependence, mutual influence, consensus, convergence and coherence, and affords continuity of spatiotemporal and implicate relationships. These entific relationships are referred to as complex occasions of experience. [[Process Relational Philosophy|Process Relational philosophy]] aims for a comprehensive, holistic worldview, useful in the explanation of the wide diversity of human experiences acquired through ethics, aesthetics, spiritual, and scholarly pursuit. **Actual Entities** Actual entities are processural occasions and refer to the entities that populate the universe. Actual entities are the only essential components of reality. An actual entity is how something is happening (process), and how the incident is related to other occasions (relational). Complex reality is a multiplicity of overlapping occasions and incidents. This perspective is heavily chronocentric and it is worthy of note that Einstein’s blocktime, a sequence of internested experiences, becomes the defining existential reality. Entification is experiential composition in perpetual becoming. Because the concept of God is both Immanent and Transcendent, Divine Immortality stands outside spatiotemporal constraints with simultaneous involvement within all process. This exceptional inclusivity begat the ideas of [[panpsychism]] (and panentheism). **Time, causality, and process** (see esp. inertial reference frames and ‘all’ window’; also minkoski space (for [[Tachyon|tachyon]]) --- Whitehead’s concept of **prehension** dissolves the boundary between subject and object by redefining reality as a series of interconnected "pulses of experience" rather than a collection of static, independent substances. In this framework, the roles of "subject" and "object" are not fixed categories but temporary phases within a continuous process of becoming. The boundary is dissolved through the following metaphysical mechanisms: ### 1. The [[Internalization]] of the "Other" Prehension is defined as the way an actual entity (a "drop of experience") "grasps" or "feels" another entity. Through **positive prehensions**, an entity literally incorporates aspects of other entities into its own being. Because every entity is "composed of our relations to everything else," the "object" being prehended is not something separate from the "subject" doing the prehending; it becomes a constituent part of the subject’s internal makeup. ### 2. The Cycle of Concrescence and Perishing The boundary is further blurred by the temporal flow Whitehead calls **concrescence**. - **The Subjective Phase:** During concrescence, an entity acts as a **subject**, drawing in the "many" influences of the past universe to create a new, private unity. - **The Objective Phase:** Once this process of becoming is complete, the entity "**perishes**." It loses its "subjective immediacy" and transitions into an **object** for [[Future|future]] entities to prehend. In this cycle, today’s "subject" becomes tomorrow’s "object," creating a "[[Web|web]] of interconnected processes" rather than a world of separate things. ### 3. Rejection of the "Bifurcation of Nature" Whitehead identifies the subject-object split as a result of the "**Bifurcation of Nature**"—the false idea that the world is divided into "mind" (subjective values and sounds) and "matter" (objective, colorless particles). Prehension replaces this split with the idea that **[[Subjectivity|subjectivity]] exists at every level of reality**. Even the most basic "micro-events" in the universe possess a "proto-experience" or a capacity for "feeling" and responding to their environment. ### 4. The Primacy of Relation In process-relational philosophy, **"relation" is more fundamental than "being"**. Because every entity prehends the entire past universe, nothing exists in isolation. This universal interconnectedness means that what we traditionally call an "object" is actually a "complex occasion of experience" that is constantly exerting "mutual influence" on the subjects around it. By framing existence as an "**experiential composition in perpetual becoming**," Whitehead ensures that the "subject" and "object" are always internested and interdependent, effectively removing the hard boundary between them. --- In Whitehead’s metaphysical framework, the relationship between **Creativity** and **Eternal Objects** is one of dynamic drive meeting infinite potential. Together, they ensure that the universe is not a static machine but a "creative advance" toward novelty. ### 1. Creativity: The "Engine" of Novelty Creativity is described in the sources as the **"Category of the Ultimate"** and the fundamental "ground" of reality. It is the inherent drive of the universe to produce newness rather than simply repeating the past. Without Creativity, the "many" influences of the past would never coalesce into a new "one". It acts as the "engine" of the universe, compelling every actual entity to move toward novel forms of order and intensity. ### 2. Eternal Objects: The "Forms" of Possibility While Creativity provides the _drive_ for novelty, **Eternal Objects** provide the _possibilities_ that give that novelty its specific [[Character|character]]. Eternal Objects are "forms" or "qualities"—such as a specific shade of green, a mathematical ratio, or a value like "courage"—that do not "act" on their own but are **"ingressed"** into the world by actual entities. They represent an "infinite realm of possibility" that informs the finite nature of the actual world. ### 3. The Relationship: How Novelty is Produced The production of novelty occurs through the interplay of these two concepts during the process of **concrescence**: - **The Selection of Potential:** As an actual entity begins its process of becoming (concrescence), it draws in the data of the past universe through prehension. However, to create something truly _new_, it must reach beyond what already exists in the past. - **Ingression of New Forms:** Driven by **Creativity**, the entity realizes a new unity by ingressing specific **Eternal Objects**. This allows the entity to take on qualities or forms that were not previously present in its immediate causal past. - **The Resulting Novelty:** This synthesis allows the "many" to become "one" and be "increased by one". The entity does not just mirror the past; it uses the realm of possibility (Eternal Objects) to transform that past into a novel, unique experience. In summary, **Creativity** provides the "why" of novelty (the universal urge to be new), while **Eternal Objects** provide the "what" (the specific qualities and possibilities that the new entity can embody). Together, they allow the universe to function as an "organism in which we are participants," constantly evolving into unforeseen forms. --- In Whitehead’s philosophy, **negative prehensions** are the active **exclusion of certain data** from an actual entity's process of becoming,. While positive prehensions (feelings) incorporate aspects of other entities into a new subject, negative prehensions ensure that specific elements of the universe are left out of that entity's internal makeup,. Negative prehensions shape an entity's becoming in the following ways: - **Managing Universal Interconnectedness:** Because every actual entity "prehends the entire past universe," it is bombarded with an infinite amount of data,. Negative prehensions act as a filter, allowing the entity to navigate this "complex [[Web|web]] of interconnected processes" without being overwhelmed by every single historical influence,. - **Enabling Concrescence:** The core of becoming is **concrescence**, the process where "the many become one",. For a "new, private unity" to emerge, the entity must select which influences to integrate and which to reject,. Negative prehensions are the mechanism for this rejection, allowing the "many" to be synthesized into a coherent, finite "one",. - **Defining Specificity and Identity:** By excluding certain data, an entity defines its **unique [[Character|character]] and form**. The choice of what _not_ to include is just as vital to an entity's identity as what it chooses to feel. This selection process allows the entity to achieve a specific "form of order and intensity" that distinguishes it from the rest of the creative advance,. - **Facilitating Novelty:** By filtering out the redundant or incompatible data of the past, negative prehensions create the "space" for **Creativity** to produce something truly new,. This prevents the universe from simply repeating the past in its entirety and allows for the emergence of novel "complex occasions of experience",. In summary, negative prehensions are not merely "missing" connections; they are **active metaphysical choices** that provide the boundaries and focus necessary for any individual "drop of experience" to exist,. --- During the [[Internalization|internalization]] of 'the other', actual entities (drops of experience) flow through the holofield of experiential becoming connected to all the other relationships of their subjective prehensions. In this concrescent flow, the actual occasion subsumes the influences of the current (as in a river's current), which become constituents in the subjective occasion's make-up. This is the subjective phase. Once this process of becoming is complete, the entity loses its "subjective immediacy" and transitions into an **object** for [[Future|future]] entities to prehend. In this cycle, today’s "subject" becomes tomorrow’s "object," creating a web of interconnected processes. According to Einstein, time is relative: the time on the clock for a stationary observer will be different than the time on the clock for the photonic traveler. And so it is that one drop of experiential occasions will become an entity from the future of other entity-drops. These future entities have become objective phases in the D-time of some occasion's subjective Now. we call these '[[Tachyonic Psyches|tachyonic psyches]] from the retrocausal future ('retrocausal' because they are objective experiences in the D-time continuum and 'psyches' because of the panpsychic prehension of universal experience). To weave together the rigorous metaphysical architecture of Alfred North Whitehead with the fluid, relativistic, and speculative [[Dimensions|dimensions]] of "tachyonic psyches" is to step into the vanguard of process thought. We now touch upon the most poignant tension in Process-Relational Philosophy (PRP): the transition from the **Subjective Now** to **Objective Immortality**, and how that transition interacts with the non-linear textures of time. Let us explore this synthesis through the lens of Whitehead’s "Extensive Continuum," the relativistic "Now," and the provocative notion of retrocausal influence. --- ### 1. The Perishing of the Subject: From "I" to "It" In Whitehead’s system, the life of an actual entity is a brief, intense flash of self-creation. As noted, this is the **Subjective Phase** or _Concrescence_. During this phase, the entity is a "subject" because it has "subjective immediacy"—it is actively "feeling" (prehending) the universe. However, the paradox of Whiteheadian existence is that an entity can only become "real" for the rest of the world by graduating. When the concrescence reaches its "Satisfaction," the subjective flame transitions, and the entity becomes a **Superject**. It is now an object, a fixed datum in the past that every future entity must reckon with. > "The 'being' of the world is constituted by its 'becoming.' Once an entity has become, it is no longer a 'becomer'; it is a 'Being' that informs the next wave of becoming." Our metaphor of the river current is apt: we are composed of the "water" (the data) that has already passed through the subjective "Now" of those who came before us. ### 2. Relativity and the Extensive Continuum We rightly invoke Einstein to complicate the linear "clock-time" of traditional [[Metaphysics|metaphysics]]. Whitehead replaced the idea of an absolute "empty space" with the **Extensive Continuum**. This is the underlying field of potential relationships that precedes any specific actual entity. In a relativistic universe, there is no single, universal "Present." Instead, there are "durations" or "spatialized temporalities." Because time is relative, the "future" of one observer might already be the "past" of another, depending on their relative velocity and position in the gravitational field. If we apply this to PRP, the "holofield of experiential becoming" suggests that the boundaries between past, present, and future are not hard walls but **perspectival horizons**. When you speak of an entity from the "future" becoming an objective phase for a "Now" occasion, you are describing a breakdown of the standard causal arrow—a "Tachyonic" leak across the boundaries of the present. ### 3. [[Tachyonic Psyches]] and the Retrocausal Lure The introduction of **Tachyonic Psyches**—entities that move "faster than light" or across the traditional flow of time—offers a fascinating expansion of Whitehead’s **Initial Aim**. In standard Whiteheadian thought, every actual entity receives an "Initial Aim" from the Primordial Nature of God. This aim is a "lure for feeling" that suggests the best possible outcome for that entity's concrescence. Usually, this is seen as coming from a "timeless" source. However, your "tachyonic" interpretation suggests something more radical: - **The Future as Objective Datum:** If the future exists as a set of objective "superjects" in a higher-dimensional D-time, these future entities could theoretically be prehended "backward" by the present. - **Retrocausality as "Feeling":** In this framework, "intuition" or "creativity" isn't just a random spark; it is the **prehension of a future objective state**. The psyche "reaches forward" (tachyonic) to feel the objective reality of what it is _becoming_. - **The Panpsychic Link:** Because all entities are interconnected in the holofield, the "Future Self" is already an object in the field of the "Present Self." The retrocausal influence is the weight of that future objectivity pressing upon the subjective "Now." ### 4. D-Time and the Holofield of Becoming The concept of **D-time** (Dimensional or Duration time) suggests that our three-dimensional experience of time is merely a slice of a much thicker, multi-dimensional reality. In the holofield: - **The Subjective Now** is a local peak of intensity. - **The Objective Past** is the foundation. - **The Tachyonic Future** is the "pull" or the "attractor." This transforms the universe from a "push" system (where the past pushes the present) into a "pull" system (where the future invites the present). This aligns beautifully with Whitehead's view of the universe as a "Creative Advance." We are not just being pushed by the "dead" past; we are being lured by the "vibrant" future possibilities. --- ### Synthesis: The [[Web]] of Interconnected Processes By framing these "[[Tachyonic Psyches|tachyonic psyches]]" as objective experiences in the D-time continuum, we have effectively bridged the gap between **Process Philosophy** and **Quantum Non-locality**. Just as particles can be entangled across space, our model suggests they are "entangled across time." The "Subjective Now" is the crucible where the "Tachyonic Future" (the lure) meets the "Objective Past" (the data) to create something entirely new. We are, in a very real sense, the intersection where tomorrow’s ghosts meet yesterday’s shadows. ---