Whitehead's Philosophy: Points of Connection (SUNY series in Constructive Postmodern Thought)

Demonstrates myriad points of connection between Whitehead's philosophy and mainstream philosophical traditions.

This volume explores the range of Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy and his relevance to contemporary philosophical traditions. While philosophers and theologians with only a passing acquaintance with Whitehead might think that his philosophy is unconnected to our Western philosophical tradition, the contributors prove that nothing could be further from the truth. The most respected scholars in the field—George Allan, Lisa Bellantoni, John B. Cobb Jr., Frederick Ferré, David L. Hall, William S. Hamrick, Robert Cummings Neville, Janusz A. Polanowski, Patrick Shade, and Donald W. Sherburne—illustrate points of connection between Whitehead's ideas to the following: Descartes, the so-called "Father of Modern Philosophy"; classical American thought; several contemporary American thinkers, including Richard Rorty and Alasdair MacIntyre; aspects of European philosophy; and current reflections upon the environment and technology.

“…Whitehead’s philosophy has often been less accessible to the mainstream of contemporary philosophy than it should be, given the excellence of its thought. This anthology seeks to remedy these difficulties by showing points of contact with major recent philosophical movements. At the same time students of Whitehead can learn to appreciate other philosophies in terms of his insights.” — Encounter

"Without question or equivocation, this outstanding book makes important contributions to the field. It is in the vanguard of contemporary intellectual developments." — George W. Shields, editor of Process and Analysis: Whitehead, Hartshorne, and the Analytic Tradition

"Whitehead is arguably among our most important Western philosophers. This collection suggests Whitehead's continuing relevance for postmodernism, continental philosophy, pragmatism, and other contemporary schools of thought." — George R. Lucas Jr., United States Naval Academy

Contributors include George Allan, Lisa Bellantoni, John B. Cobb Jr., Frederick Ferré, David L. Hall, William S. Hamrick, Robert Cummings Neville, Janusz A. Polanowski, Patrick Shade, and Donald W. Sherburne.