Who is Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead Biography
Alfred North Whitehead was a British mathematician and philosopher who is known for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics. Born in 1861, Whitehead was a professor at the University of Cambridge and worked closely with Bertrand Russell to develop the Principia Mathematica, a three-volume work on the foundations of mathematics. Whitehead's later work focused on the philosophy of science, and he developed a metaphysical system known as process philosophy, which emphasizes the dynamic nature of reality and the importance of change and evolution. His ideas have had a lasting impact on both philosophy and mathematics, and continue to be studied and debated by scholars today.
Alfred North Whitehead Facts
- Alfred North Whitehead was a British mathematician and philosopher who was born on February 15, 1861, in Ramsgate, Kent, England, and died on December 30, 1947, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. He was 86 years old at the time of his death.
- Whitehead received his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and became a fellow in 1884. He later became a professor of mathematics at the University of London and then a professor of philosophy at Harvard University.
- Whitehead is best known for his work in the fields of logic, metaphysics, and the philosophy of science. He is the co-author, with Bertrand Russell, of the seminal work "Principia Mathematica," which attempted to reduce all of mathematics to logic.
- Whitehead was also a proponent of what he called "process philosophy," which holds that the universe is constantly changing and that everything in it is interconnected. He believed that reality is not made up of isolated objects but of processes that are continuously interacting with one another.
- In addition to his philosophical work, Whitehead also made significant contributions to mathematics. He is credited with introducing the concept of the "vector space" and developing the theory of "exterior algebra."
- Whitehead was a member of the Royal Society, the British Academy, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was also awarded numerous honors and prizes during his lifetime, including the Order of Merit in 1945.
- Whitehead was married to Evelyn Wade from 1891 until her death in 1919. They had three children together. In 1921, Whitehead remarried to a mathematician named Alice Wood. They had one son together.
- Whitehead was known for his eccentricities, including his tendency to wear a top hat and carry an umbrella at all times, even on sunny days. He was also an avid walker and enjoyed exploring the countryside around his home.
- Whitehead's ideas have had a significant impact on a wide range of fields, including philosophy, mathematics, physics, and theology. His work continues to be studied and debated by scholars around the world.
- Whitehead's legacy is still felt today, not only in academic circles but also in popular culture. For example, the philosopher and mathematician played a prominent role in Neal Stephenson's science fiction novel "Anathem," which explores many of the same themes and ideas that Whitehead wrote about in his work.
Alfred North Whitehead Quotes
"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude." (Meaning)
- Alfred North Whitehead Quotes
* The editor of this short biography made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any quotes, facts, or key life events.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
