From Old Words to New Meanings
Whitehead's Creative Use of "Concrescence"
An actual entity is concrete because it is such a particular concrescence of the universe.
Whitehead, Alfred North. Process and Reality
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1890 |
Neologistically Speaking
The original use of "concrescence" referred to a physical coming together or solidification. Whitehead transformed this concept to capture the dynamic and creative process by which each actual occasion subjectively synthesizes the many into one—a process that is both a continuation of the past and an expression of novelty. In doing so, he extended the concept beyond its scientific roots, using it to articulate a core aspect of his process philosophy: the idea that reality is not static but continually in the making, with each moment of experience representing a fresh act of creation. Whitehead's creative transformation of the meaning of "concrescence" is itself an illustration of what he means by concrescence. He suggests that the entire universe, even as a living whole, is concrescing. Linguistic creativity, as seen in neologisms—whether through the creation of entirely new words, new uses of old words, or combinations of existing words—is an expression of, not an exception to, the creative advance into novelty that characterizes the universe as a whole.
The Word "Concrescence"
from Oxford English Dictionary
How common is the word concrescence? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, there are about 0.8 occurrences per million words in modern written English. More than a few of the occurences must come from scholars interested in Whitehead. However, Whitehead did not invent the word "concrescence." The first recorded use of the word dates back to the early 1600s. It was subsequently used in the sciences. He repurposed it by building upon earlier scientific uses and connotations, giving the word a new philosophical meaning. He added the idea that concrescence is an act of lived subjectivity: e.g. of feeling the presence of the past actual world, appropriating them in the presence, and creating something new in the process. His repurposing of the word reflects the very process he had in mind: inheriting from the past and creating something novel. Here’s a delineation of the different meanings "concrescence" has had.
Concretion (obsolete)
Definition: Another obsolete meaning of "concrescence" is related to concretion, referring to a substance or object that has hardened or solidified, such as stones or stalactites.
Example: J. Healey's translation of St. Augustine’s Citie of God (1610) and J. Smeaton’s Narrative Edystone Lighthouse (1793) both use "concrescence" in this context.
General Growth or Assimilation (obsolete)
Definition: In its earliest usage, "concrescence" referred to the process of growth by assimilation, where one substance or part absorbs or integrates with another.
Example: As used by W. Raleigh in 1614, it described the concept of growth or merging of substances, though this meaning has become obsolete.
Biology and Physiology: Coalescence of Cells, Organs, or Organisms:
Definition: In biology, particularly in the late 19th century, "concrescence" referred to the coalescence or growing together of cells, organs, or even individual organisms, especially in lower organisms during generation or reproduction.
Example: F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester's translation of C. Gegenbaur's Elements of Comparative Anatomy (1878) uses the term to describe the coming together of separate cells or the coalescence of two individuals in organisms.
Embryology: Growing Together of Parts During Development:
Definition: In embryology, "concrescence" is used to describe the process where different parts of an embryo grow together during development, such as the coalescence of layers or the merging of halves in vertebrates.
Example: C. S. Minot in American Naturalist (1890) discusses "concrescence" in the context of vertebrate embryo development.
Botany: Union of Cell Walls:
Definition: In botany, "concrescence" refers to the union of cell walls by a cementing substance, effectively bonding them together.
Example: B. D. Jackson's Glossary of Botanic Terms (1900) defines concrescence in this botanical context.
Philosophy: Subjective process of Feeling the World into Unity
Definition: Subjective unification of many influences from the past in a single moment of experience, thus becoming a concrete "actual entity," The process by which the many become one and are increased by one.
Example: Alfred North Whitehead's Process and Reality
Whitehead revitalized and repurposed "concrescence" within his philosophy to describe how an actual entity comes into being through the integration of various potentials into a unified experience, guided by a purpose. This philosophical shift from a physical to a phenomenological meaning reflects Whitehead's broader project of expanding the scope of science to include the subjective experience of reality.
In Whitehead's view, each moment of experience, or "actual occasion," involves the "concrescence" of various elements—past experiences, present perceptions, and future possibilities—into a single, coherent whole. This process is not merely a passive reception of influences but an active integration, where the subject shapes these elements according to a purpose or "subjective aim."
The original use of "concrescence" denoted a physical coming together or solidification. Whitehead transformed this concept to capture the dynamic and creative process by which each actual occasion subjectively synthesizes the many into one—a process that is both a continuation of the past and an expression of novelty. In doing so, he took the concept beyond its scientific roots, using it to articulate a core aspect of his process philosophy: that reality is not static but continually in the making, with each moment of experience representing a fresh act of creation.
Concretion (obsolete)
Definition: Another obsolete meaning of "concrescence" is related to concretion, referring to a substance or object that has hardened or solidified, such as stones or stalactites.
Example: J. Healey's translation of St. Augustine’s Citie of God (1610) and J. Smeaton’s Narrative Edystone Lighthouse (1793) both use "concrescence" in this context.
General Growth or Assimilation (obsolete)
Definition: In its earliest usage, "concrescence" referred to the process of growth by assimilation, where one substance or part absorbs or integrates with another.
Example: As used by W. Raleigh in 1614, it described the concept of growth or merging of substances, though this meaning has become obsolete.
Biology and Physiology: Coalescence of Cells, Organs, or Organisms:
Definition: In biology, particularly in the late 19th century, "concrescence" referred to the coalescence or growing together of cells, organs, or even individual organisms, especially in lower organisms during generation or reproduction.
Example: F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester's translation of C. Gegenbaur's Elements of Comparative Anatomy (1878) uses the term to describe the coming together of separate cells or the coalescence of two individuals in organisms.
Embryology: Growing Together of Parts During Development:
Definition: In embryology, "concrescence" is used to describe the process where different parts of an embryo grow together during development, such as the coalescence of layers or the merging of halves in vertebrates.
Example: C. S. Minot in American Naturalist (1890) discusses "concrescence" in the context of vertebrate embryo development.
Botany: Union of Cell Walls:
Definition: In botany, "concrescence" refers to the union of cell walls by a cementing substance, effectively bonding them together.
Example: B. D. Jackson's Glossary of Botanic Terms (1900) defines concrescence in this botanical context.
Philosophy: Subjective process of Feeling the World into Unity
Definition: Subjective unification of many influences from the past in a single moment of experience, thus becoming a concrete "actual entity," The process by which the many become one and are increased by one.
Example: Alfred North Whitehead's Process and Reality
Whitehead revitalized and repurposed "concrescence" within his philosophy to describe how an actual entity comes into being through the integration of various potentials into a unified experience, guided by a purpose. This philosophical shift from a physical to a phenomenological meaning reflects Whitehead's broader project of expanding the scope of science to include the subjective experience of reality.
In Whitehead's view, each moment of experience, or "actual occasion," involves the "concrescence" of various elements—past experiences, present perceptions, and future possibilities—into a single, coherent whole. This process is not merely a passive reception of influences but an active integration, where the subject shapes these elements according to a purpose or "subjective aim."
The original use of "concrescence" denoted a physical coming together or solidification. Whitehead transformed this concept to capture the dynamic and creative process by which each actual occasion subjectively synthesizes the many into one—a process that is both a continuation of the past and an expression of novelty. In doing so, he took the concept beyond its scientific roots, using it to articulate a core aspect of his process philosophy: that reality is not static but continually in the making, with each moment of experience representing a fresh act of creation.
Linguistic Evolution
The history of language is an ongoing process of repurposing old words for new purposes. This dynamic evolution reflects the adaptive nature of human communication, where existing words are continually modified, reinterpreted, and recontextualized to meet the changing needs, experiences, and understandings of people.
This process occurs in several ways:
Whitehead’s philosophical language, including terms like concrescence, reflects this broader linguistic phenomenon. He repurposed words to express complex philosophical ideas that did not have adequate representation in existing language. This repurposing is an essential part of how language grows and adapts, enabling us to articulate and share new ways of understanding the world.
This process occurs in several ways:
- Metaphorical Extension: Words are often repurposed through metaphor, where a term originally used in one context is extended to a different context. For example, the word virus originally referred to a biological pathogen, but with the advent of digital technology, it was repurposed to describe malicious software.
- Semantic Shift: Over time, words can undergo shifts in meaning. For instance, the word awful once meant "full of awe" or "inspiring wonder," but it has gradually shifted to mean something unpleasant or terrible.
- Specialization and Generalization: Words can become more specialized or more general in their meanings. For instance, the word meat originally referred to any kind of food but has become specialized to mean animal flesh. Conversely, the word computer once referred specifically to a person who computes but has generalized to refer to the machine we use today.
- Neologism and Repurposing: New concepts and inventions often necessitate new words or the repurposing of old ones. For example, tweet was originally associated with bird sounds, but with the advent of social media, it has been repurposed to refer to posts on Twitter.
- Cultural and Social Change: As societies evolve, so does language. Words and phrases are repurposed to reflect new social realities. For instance, terms like cloud have taken on new meanings in the context of technology, referring not just to the meteorological phenomenon but also to internet-based data storage.
- Technical Jargon: In specialized fields, existing words are often repurposed to fit new technical or scientific contexts, such as the use of field in physics, which originally referred to an open area of land but was repurposed to describe a region of space where a force operates.
Whitehead’s philosophical language, including terms like concrescence, reflects this broader linguistic phenomenon. He repurposed words to express complex philosophical ideas that did not have adequate representation in existing language. This repurposing is an essential part of how language grows and adapts, enabling us to articulate and share new ways of understanding the world.
Whitehead and "Concrescence"
Whitehead did not invent the word "concrescence." The first recorded use of the word dates back to the early 1600s. However, he repurposed it by building upon earlier scientific uses, giving the word a new philosophical meaning. This act of repurposing reflects the very process he had in mind: inheriting from the past and creating something novel.
Historical Uses of "Concrescence":
Whitehead revitalized and repurposed "concrescence" within his philosophy to describe how an actual entity comes into being through the integration of various potentials into a unified experience, guided by a purpose. This philosophical shift from a physical to a phenomenological meaning reflects Whitehead's broader project of expanding the scope of science to include the subjective experience of reality.
In Whitehead's view, each moment of experience, or "actual occasion," involves the "concrescence" of various elements—past experiences, present perceptions, and future possibilities—into a single, coherent whole. This process is not merely a passive reception of influences but an active integration, where the subject shapes these elements according to a purpose or "subjective aim."
The original use of "concrescence" denoted a physical coming together or solidification. Whitehead transformed this concept to capture the dynamic and creative process by which each actual occasion subjectively synthesizes the many into one—a process that is both a continuation of the past and an expression of novelty. In doing so, he took the concept beyond its scientific roots, using it to articulate a core aspect of his process philosophy: that reality is not static but continually in the making, with each moment of experience representing a fresh act of creation.
Historical Uses of "Concrescence":
- Obsolete Uses (1614 onwards): The term "concrescence" first appeared in the early 17th century, referring to the growth or merging of substances. W. Raleigh, in History of the World, noted its use in describing the solidification of materials, such as the formation of stones or stalactites, though this meaning eventually became outdated.
- Biology and Physiology (1878–1888): By the late 19th century, "concrescence" was used in biology to describe the merging or growing together of cells, organs, or organisms, particularly in simpler forms of life.
- Embryology (1890–1956): The term gained further specificity in embryology, where it referred to the process of two parts growing together during the development of a vertebrate embryo.
- Botany (1900): In botany, "concrescence" described the union of cell walls through a cementing substance, as defined in B. D. Jackson's Glossary of Botanic Terms.
Whitehead revitalized and repurposed "concrescence" within his philosophy to describe how an actual entity comes into being through the integration of various potentials into a unified experience, guided by a purpose. This philosophical shift from a physical to a phenomenological meaning reflects Whitehead's broader project of expanding the scope of science to include the subjective experience of reality.
In Whitehead's view, each moment of experience, or "actual occasion," involves the "concrescence" of various elements—past experiences, present perceptions, and future possibilities—into a single, coherent whole. This process is not merely a passive reception of influences but an active integration, where the subject shapes these elements according to a purpose or "subjective aim."
The original use of "concrescence" denoted a physical coming together or solidification. Whitehead transformed this concept to capture the dynamic and creative process by which each actual occasion subjectively synthesizes the many into one—a process that is both a continuation of the past and an expression of novelty. In doing so, he took the concept beyond its scientific roots, using it to articulate a core aspect of his process philosophy: that reality is not static but continually in the making, with each moment of experience representing a fresh act of creation.