Overview

Leemon McHenry argues that Whitehead's metaphysics provides a better basis for achieving a unification of physical theory than a traditional substance metaphysics. He investigates the influence of Maxwell's electromagnetic field, Einstein's theory of relativity and quantum mechanics on the development of the ontology of events and compares Whitehead's theory to his contemporaries, C. D. Broad and Bertrand Russell, as well as W. V. Quine. In this way, McHenry defends the naturalised and speculative approach to metaphysics as opposed to analytical and linguistic methods that arose in the 20th century.

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9781474474573

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Reviews

"Don't be fooled by the slender dimensions of this volume. McHenry is attempting, fallibly if not immodestly, nothing less than ""a general theory of the world""...One of the valuable contributions of McHenry's book is that it serves as a response to the consistently ignorant statements of some theoretical physicists regarding the irrelevance of philosophy. Steven Weinberg, Stephen Hawking, Neil deGrasse Tyson and others would do well to take to heart McHenry's claim that ""Physics without speculation is sterile.""... I can think of no better way to conclude this review than to quote from Quine's own 1995 letter regarding McHenry's proposal for the present project: ""The ambitious project which he now envisages is of precisely the sort that I like to picture as the next flowering of philosophy and science: a merging of rigorous, logically sophisticated methodology and ontology with the physicists' findings and quandaries in cosmology and quantum mechanics"" (ix). There is ample reason to believe that this volume merits Quine's praise.--Brian G. Henning, Gonzaga University ""Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"" For discussions of the interface of science, religion, and philosophy, a more stimulating book is hard to find. Summing Up: Essential.--F. J. Hoffman, West Chester University of Pennsylvania ""Choice"" Overall, McHenry's work truly represents a rehabilitation of White-head's event metaphysics in a threefold sense. First, it rehabilitates Whitehead's event metaphysics in itself because McHenry's account explains it in a compelling and comprehensible way, including some of its most difficult and complex points. Second, it rehabilitates Whitehead's event metaphysics with reference to philosophy in general, and analytic philosophy in particular, because it lays the foundations for a comparison of the two. Finally, it rehabilitates Whitehead's metaphysics with reference to science because it shows several points of influence, dialogue, and inter-connection that it has in relation to recent and contemporary findings in physics and cosmology.--Maria Regina Brioschi, Universit� degli Studi di Milano ""Process Studies"" The explanatory power of event ontology is clearly demonstrated here in ways that go well beyond arguments provided by both Whitehead and Russell. McHenry accomplishes well this critically important goal through sound philosophical analysis and contemporary science results, especially that of modern physics.--Timothy Eastman, Plasmas International Consulting This clear and cogent book should prove worthwhile to philosophers interested in metaphysics, the theory of events, the philosophy of time, Whitehead studies, the philosophy of physics and/or the history of philosophy. Provocative questions explored in it include: Why should we study Whitehead? Why should we accept an event ontology?--John W. Lango, Hunter College of the City University of New York This is a work of exceptional scope and erudition. McHenry writes clearly and comprehensively, in a manner that should enable a great many more readers to engage closely with the most fundamental and perplexing challenges of contemporary physical and philosophical cosmology.--George Lucas, U.S. Naval Academy ""The Review of Metaphysics"" McHenry's The Event Universe is surely a book worth reading, philosophically significant and scientifically relevant.--Stefan Zolcer, Comenius University ""Metascience"" McHenry's The Event Universe is surely a book worth reading, philosophically significant and scientifically relevant.--Stefan Zolcer, Comenius University ""Metascience"""

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Leemon McHenry is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at California State University, Northridge.

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