Process and Reality

...with Chapter V of Part III, titled “The Higher Phases of Experience”; with Chapter V of Part IV, titled “Measurement”; and with Chapter II of Part V, titled “God and The World.” These chapters should be recognized as the natural result of the single system of ideas original: "scheme of ideas"; a logical framework or conceptual map used to understand the world explained in the second chapter of Part I.

In these lectures, I have tried original: "endeavoured" to condense material that has come from years of deep reflection. In publishing these results, four strong impressions dominate my mind:

First, that the trend of historical and philosophical criticism—which focuses on isolated original: "detached" questions and has mostly dominated the last two hundred years—has completed its work. It now needs to be balanced by a more dedicated effort toward building unified systems of thought original: "constructive thought".

Secondly, that the true method of building a philosophy is to create a system of ideas—the best that one can—and then to fearlessly explore how our experiences can be understood through that system.

Thirdly, that all systematic thinking on various scientific topics is actually guided by some such system of ideas. These frameworks are often unacknowledged, but they are nonetheless powerful in guiding the imagination. The importance of philosophy lies in its dedicated effort to make these frameworks clear original: "explicit", so that they can be criticized and improved.

There remains a final reflection: how shallow, weak, and imperfect are our efforts to understand the deep nature of things. In philosophical discussion, even the slightest hint of being certain that one has the "final word" is a display of foolishness.

In expanding these lectures into this book, I have been greatly helped by the difficult questions and criticisms suggested by the members of my classes at Harvard. Also, this work would never have been written without the constant encouragement and advice which I owe to my wife.