“The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.”
–Alfred North Whitehead

Fantasy, Science, and Beauty in an Evolving Universe (dialogue with Tim Jackson)

Tim and I continued our dialogue about the Free Energy Principle and Whitehead’s cosmology. I began by recounting a short video of Karl Friston saying all human perception is fantasy. From there we discussed FEP’s instrumentalism, the Peirce-James pragmatist difference, and explored the implications of evolution as a general principle extending beyond just biology.

We also returned to Whitehead’s “Propositions.” No doubt, Whitehead’s theory of theories (aka propositions) is weird. But I am inclined to give the coauthor of Principia Mathematica broad leeway to challenge the limitations of formal logic. 

Whitehead’s theory of propositional feelings implies that thought extends far beyond just language possessed human beings. In Whitehead’s cosmos, as in Plotinus’, nearly everything in the universe is contemplating; that is, everything is considering propositions, and it is through the systematic relations of these propagating propositions that past and possible are synthesized in each and every actual entity. But unlike Plotinus’ Eternal One from which all things emanate and contemplatively return, Whitehead’s Creative Advance assures that new propositions are continually coming into being, new truths are being added to creation. In the creative decisions of each creature, novel values incarnate to grant the Many the power to continually recreate the world with God.

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