Panpsychism and Speculative Biology: A.N. Whitehead and C.H. Waddington
L. McHenry
Revue roumaine de philosophie December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.59277/rrp.2025.69.2.09 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Whitehead's metaphysics provided Waddington with a theoretical framework that informed his research on development and evolution, and that both thinkers' views suggest a revolutionary change of paradigm in theoretical biology. |
Abstract
The geneticist C.H. Waddington found in A.N. Whitehead’s metaphysics the power of generalization that produced the basic principles of process, creativity and choice, all of which provided a theoretical framework and informed the direction of his scientific research on the development and evolution of organisms. In this paper I begin by examining the flaws in a purely mechanistic and materialistic philosophy, show how Whitehead’s concept of organism addresses these flaws and finally explore Whitehead’s influence on Waddington. Both Whitehead and Waddington’s views suggest a revolutionary change of paradigm in theoretical biology.