​Imagining a Plant as a Huge Brain

“In a plant, a single brain would be a fatal flaw because they have evolved to be lunch. Plants use a very different strategy,” says Stefano Mancuso, plant neurologist at the University of Florence. “They are very good at diffusing the same function all over the body.” You can remove 90% of a plant without killing it. “You need to imagine a plant as a huge brain. Maybe not as efficient as in the case of animals, but diffused everywhere." This does not mean that plants lack self-awareness. "Plants are perfectly aware of themselves." Click here.

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​The Metaphysics of a Plant:
​A Whiteheadian Approach

​by Jay McDaniel 

​An individual plant can be understood as a community of communities of communities without a central seat of awareness. Or it can be understood as a living whole of the various cellular communities that compose it, with subjectivity of its own.

For purposes of introducing Whitehead's metaphysics, I treat the plant as a living whole with a life or mind of its own. On this view a plant is a self. This self may have more subjectivity than its component parts, or less. Some plants may have more subjectivity than others. We do not know, but evidence strongly suggests that some plants have a great deal of subjectivity: intelligence, agency, feeling. While plant intelligence remains a debated concept, evidence suggests that plants can learn, adapt, and make complex decisions. Their unique forms of cognition challenge our preconceptions and reveal the hidden lives of plant cells. See The Secret Life of Plants: How They Memorize, Communicate, Problem Solve, and Socialize.

Whatever its degree of subjectivity, an individual plant has intrinsic and instrumental value, as do all living beings, humans included. Intrinsic value is a plant's reality for itself. Its life matters to itself, and this self-mattering is its intrinsic value.  Instrumental value is the value or influence a plant has for others, positive or negative. In both respects an individual plant is not a single entity or substance. It is a relational and living whole. It is many as well as one - a one that is also a many. A compound individual, if you will.

As a relational whole it part of, not apart from, the larger web of life on earth. This larger web of life on earth, the Earth community, includes all other living beings and also the minerals, gases, and plasmas that are part of the world. All are "living" in the sense that they have spontaneous energy of their own. And of course they are part of a larger galactic whole which includes billions upon billions of galaxies, many with planets and moons on which various forms of life undoubtedly exist. This larger galactic whole is the universe with its many dimensions. A plant is a child of the universe, as are we.

Process philosophers propose that the universe, understood as an evolving galactic whole, unfolds within a still larger whole, the living whole of the universe, also named God. God is the cosmic self of the universe: the living whole, a divine milieu, in which all things unfold. All creatures of every kind "live and move and have their being" within this divine milieu, which is present to each and all in an intimate way. The divine milieu is not far away from the plant. It is close to it and within it as an inwardly felt lure to become itself. Each "child of the universe" matters to God.

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In Mind, Value, and Cosmos: On the Relational Nature of Ultimacy the process philosopher Andrew Davis speaks of six metaphysical ideas that are needed to understand the universe: mind, value, actuality, possibility, God, and the world. A plant illustrates all of these. The mind of a plant is its feelings of its world. The value of a plant is the value it has for itself and also the value it has for others. The actuality of a plant is its capacity for agency, for acting in response to the world and its own internal dynamics. The possibilities of a plant are the movements and patterns it may or may not actualize in its development, but which are possible for it. God is the cosmic self or the living whole of the universe, present within the plant as an indwelling lure toward the fulness of life and beyond the plant as the inclusive whole in which its life is related to all other lives on or beyond the earth.  And the world is that totality of actualities and events in the universe that are indeed the universe. 
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A Community of Communities of Communities

The two major examples of "actual entity" in Whitehead's "Process and Reality" are quantum events in the depths of atoms and single moments of human experience. The macroscopic entities we see in the world - individual plants, for example - are typically not imagined as actual entities in their own right, but rather aggregates of actual entities. An individual plant, so it goes, is a society or nexus of actual entities. Or, to use another word, a community of actual entities, consisting of its various parts (roots, stems, and leaves) which are likewise communities, consisting of still smaller parts (living cells, organelles) which are also communities. On this view, a plant is a community of communities of communities with no single self. This "community of community of communities" is itself nested within the context of a larger environment consisting of soil, other organisms, sunlight and the like. It is dependent on what comes to it from the outside and could not exist apart from its environment.

Living Wholes

However, Whitehead also speaks of some kinds of societies that have subjective unity of their own which includes, but are also more than, the parts of that compose them. They are living wholes, with reality for themselves. Candidates for such living wholes include human beings, other animals, plants, and living cells.

A living whole is any actuality which has reality for itself which is more than, and not reducible to, the actualities that compose it, even as they, too, might have reality for themselves. If, for example, the living cells in a plant have reality for themselves, they are living wholes. And if the plant as a whole also has reality for itself, then, it, too, is a living whole. It is a living whole composed of living wholes.

A living whole is a subject in its own right and not simply an aggregate of parts. It has subjective unity. Whether or not individual plants have unity of their own, and thus a sense of for-itself-ness, is an empirical question. It is possible that some do and some don't. Either way subjective unity itself is a matter of degree and kind. For example, in human life, an embryo may have a certain degree of subjective unity after the first week of conception but much more in the third trimester, and that, after that, still more as an infant. Individual plants may have varying degrees of unity relative to their complexity and age. And, needless to say, the kinds of unity that have might be very different from that of human beings and other animals, as are they different from one another.

The Inner Life of Plants: Prehending their Worlds

Whitehead's general idea is that the world is held together by the interactions of actual entities feeling the presence of their surroundings through acts of conscious and unconscious "feelings" or "prehensions." The word "prehension" comes from the word "apprehension." To prehend something in the environment is to apprehend it, except Whitehead eliminates the "ap" because, in his view, apprehension suggests conscious apprehension, and he wants to emphasize that many prehensions are beneath the level of consciousness. In their feeling the presence of one another, actual entities become parts of one another. Each entity is an activity of "the many becoming one."

While, at a technical level, actual entities are momentary events of various dimensions that prehend only the entities in their past actual worlds, we can generalize the idea of an actual entity to include macroscopic organisms such as plants, with their seeds, roots, stems, and leaves. Cultivating a plant at home can then provide a tangible illustration of the idea of prehension through various stages of the plant's growth and development:

1. Seed Germination: When planting a seed, it begins its journey by prehending its immediate surroundings. As the seed absorbs water and nutrients from the soil, it perceives its environment and responds to stimuli such as light and moisture.
2. Root Development: As the seed germinates and develops roots, it continues to prehend its surroundings through its root system. The roots extend into the soil, exploring and absorbing nutrients and water necessary for the plant's growth.
3. Stem and Leaf Growth: As the plant grows, its stem and leaves prehend sunlight, air, and other elements essential for photosynthesis and growth. The leaves perceive light and convert it into energy through the process of photosynthesis, while the stem provides structural support and transports nutrients throughout the plant.
4. Flowering and Reproduction: When the plant reaches maturity, it may produce flowers as part of its reproductive process. The flowers prehend pollinators such as bees or butterflies, attracting them with color, scent, and nectar. Pollination occurs as pollen is transferred between flowers, leading to the production of seeds for future generations.
5. Memory and Adaptation: Throughout its life cycle, the plant continuously prehends and adapts to its changing environment. It may respond to environmental cues such as temperature changes or water availability by adjusting its growth patterns or dormancy periods. The plant's ability to remember and adapt to its surroundings is essential for its survival and reproduction.

By observing and caring for a plant at home, individuals can witness firsthand the process of prehension as the plant interacts with its environment and responds to stimuli. Through acts of perception and memory, the plant navigates its surroundings, grows, and adapts to changing conditions, illustrating Whitehead's concept of prehensions as fundamental to understanding the interconnectedness of all living beings with their environment.

Objective Forms of Plants: A Journey in Space-Time
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Throughout the process of prehending, a plant embodies various phenotypic patterns or forms as it responds to its environment and undergoes growth and development. Some examples of these forms include:

1. Seedling Form: In the early stages of growth, a plant may exhibit a seedling form characterized by delicate stems and small, tender leaves. Seedlings are often more vulnerable to environmental stresses and may require special care to ensure successful establishment.
2. Vegetative Form: As the plant continues to grow, it develops a vegetative form characterized by the production of leaves, stems, and roots. The vegetative form is focused on photosynthesis and resource acquisition, with an emphasis on maximizing leaf area and biomass production.
3. Flowering Form: When a plant reaches reproductive maturity, it transitions to a flowering form characterized by the production of flowers. The flowering form is often accompanied by changes in growth habits, such as the elongation of stems and the development of specialized reproductive structures.
4. Fruit and Seed Form: After pollination and fertilization, the plant may produce fruits and seeds as part of its reproductive process. The fruit and seed form is characterized by the development of structures such as berries, pods, or cones, which contain seeds that can be dispersed to new locations.
5. Climbing or Trailing Form: Some plants exhibit climbing or trailing forms, where stems may elongate and produce specialized structures such as tendrils or aerial roots to support their growth. Climbing and trailing forms allow plants to access light and space in diverse habitats, such as forests or meadows.
6. Rosette Form: Certain plants, such as many succulents or basal rosettes, exhibit a compact, low-growing rosette form characterized by a cluster of leaves arranged in a circular or spiral pattern. Rosette forms are often adapted to arid or rocky environments and may store water in their leaves for drought tolerance.
7. Creeping or Spreading Form: Creeping or spreading forms are characterized by the growth of stems or runners along the ground, allowing the plant to spread and colonize new areas. These forms are often seen in plants such as strawberries or groundcovers, which form dense mats or carpets of foliage.
8. Upright or Erect Form: Many plants exhibit an upright or erect form characterized by vertical growth and a dominant central stem. Upright forms are common in trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, providing structural support and maximizing exposure to sunlight.

These are just a few examples of the diverse phenotypic patterns or forms that plants can exhibit as they prehend their environment and undergo growth and development. Each form reflects the plant's adaptation to its ecological niche and its ability to respond to environmental cues and pressures.

In fact, Whitehead speaks of two kinds of forms: forms pertaining to the shapes of things in the perceived world, as above, and also what he calls the "subjective forms" of actual entities as they feel the presence of their surroundings. A "subjective form" is an emotion, and Whitehead thinks that every prehension has a subjective form of one kind or another, the basic two of which are aversion (repulsion) and adversion (attraction). When actual entities feel the presence of others, they are typically either attracted or repulsed by what they feel. The experiential concreteness of a plant, in any given moment of its life, is an actualization of objective and subjective forms: of observable patterns and emotions in response to what is felt. Whatever possibilities are actualized are, of course, influenced by other actual entities. But a plant’s actualization of these possibilities is also a result of the plant’s own spontaneous creativity in the moment at hand.

The Intrinsic Value of a Plant: Its Reality for Itself

This spontaneous creativity is part of the plant’s "self-creativity" in the moment; its self-creative agency. At the heart of this agency is an act of decision: a cutting off of some possibilities in the actualization of others. When you look at the plant, you are seeing the self-expression of its self-creativity, as connected to the wider world. Thus you are seeing it, not just as a fact in the world, but also as something that, in creating itself, has value for itself. Process philosophers speak of this as the intrinsic value of the entity at issue: in this case the intrinsic value of a single plant.

The possibilities themselves -- for example, circular or spiral patterns - can be considered apart from their embodiment in the plant, in which case they are objects of what Whitehead calls "conceptual prehensions." Conceptual prehensions are feelings of the presence of possibilities. Some of these possibilities are relevant to actualization in the world, as the plants illustrate: but some of them are, in Whitehead’s terms, "pure potentialities" which may or may not be relevant, and which may or may not have ever been actualized. They would include highly abstract mathematical entities which he calls "eternal objects." They are eternal because, in their abstractness, they are beyond time, or non-temporal. When mathematicians explore the possibility of a sixty-seven dimensional universe, and develop a geometry for it, they are exploring the realm of eternal objects. And when artists explore immensely abstract forms of color connections, they are likewise exploring the realm of eternal. Eternal objects are not more real than the world of actuality; they are real but not actual. In Whitehead's philosophy, they exist in the mind of God even if they have never been actualized in the universe.

The Mind and Personality of a Plant

Individual plants (or the cells within them) have conceptual prehensions. This does not mean that they have complex forms of thinking analogous to those of animals with brains; but it does mean that they have a sense of possibility as well as actuality. As a plant responds to its environment, it first senses the possibility of responding in several ways, one of which it chooses. The sense of possibility may be non-conscious, but it is nevertheless as the core of the plant's ongoing life.

When we consider the plant's prehensions of the world and its prehensions of possibilities, we can then imagine the personality of the plant. Different plants have different personalities, as all gardeners know. A respectful approach to plants will be sensitive to the personality, knowing that it is partly projected onto the plant by humans, but partly the result of the plants behavior. Here are some examples proposed by OpenAI.

1. Cacti: Cacti possess a personality characterized by endurance and self-reliance. Despite harsh conditions, they thrive with minimal water and are adept at storing moisture in their fleshy stems. Cacti often evoke a sense of stoicism and perseverance, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity.
2. Venus Flytrap: Venus Flytraps exhibit a fascinating and somewhat mysterious personality, showcasing their unique adaptation for capturing prey. With their snap-trap mechanism and sensitive trigger hairs, they portray a sense of cunning and efficiency in hunting insects. Venus Flytraps evoke a sense of intrigue and fascination, symbolizing adaptability and resourcefulness.
   
   
3. Lavender: Lavender plants are often associated with calmness and tranquility. With their fragrant blooms and soothing aroma, they convey a sense of relaxation and serenity. Lavender plants symbolize peace and harmony, evoking feelings of contentment and well-being.
4. Ferns: Ferns are renowned for their lush foliage and graceful appearance. With their delicate fronds and intricate patterns, they exude a sense of elegance and refinement. Ferns convey a personality of sophistication and beauty, symbolizing gracefulness and refinement in nature.
5. Bamboo: Bamboo plants are known for their remarkable strength and flexibility. With their sturdy stalks and resilient nature, they withstand winds and weather with ease. Bamboo plants convey a personality of resilience and adaptability, symbolizing strength and endurance in the face of challenges.
6. Orchids: Orchids are admired for their exquisite beauty and exotic allure. With their intricate blooms and vibrant colors, they captivate the senses and inspire awe. Orchids convey a personality of elegance and refinement, symbolizing grace and sophistication in nature.

The Generosity of Plants

In addition to their intrinsic value, plants hold immense instrumental value in sustaining ecosystems and supporting life on Earth. Their intrinsic value, as subjects of their own lives, is complemented by their instrumental value as objects for the world. From providing oxygen through photosynthesis to serving as sources of food, medicine, shelter, and raw materials, plants play indispensable roles in the functioning of ecosystems and the well-being of numerous species, including humans. In this respect their lives are gifts to the world. We can rightly speak of the generosity of plants, of which there are many forms:

1. Oxygen Production: Perhaps the most well-known contribution of plants is their role in oxygen production. Through photosynthesis, plants utilize sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, thus replenishing the atmosphere with the vital gas necessary for respiration by humans and other animals.
2. Food Source: Plants serve as the primary source of food for countless organisms, forming the base of the food chain in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. From fruits and vegetables to grains and nuts, plant-derived foods provide essential nutrients and energy for sustaining life.
3. Medicinal Value: Many plant species possess medicinal properties that have been utilized by humans for millennia. Traditional herbal remedies, modern pharmaceuticals, and botanical extracts derived from plants are used to treat various ailments and health conditions, highlighting the importance of plant biodiversity for human health.
4. Habitat and Shelter: Plants provide habitat and shelter for a diverse array of organisms, including insects, birds, mammals, and microorganisms. Forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other plant-dominated ecosystems offer refuge, nesting sites, and breeding grounds for numerous species, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
5. Soil Stabilization and Erosion Control: Plant roots play a crucial role in stabilizing soil and preventing erosion by anchoring the soil in place. Vegetation cover, such as grasses and shrubs, helps to reduce the impact of wind and water erosion, protecting soil fertility and preventing sediment runoff into water bodies.
6. Climate Regulation: Plants influence local and global climates through processes such as evapotranspiration, which regulates temperature and humidity levels in the atmosphere. Forests, in particular, play a significant role in climate regulation by sequestering carbon dioxide and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
7. Pollination and Reproduction: Many plant species rely on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats for reproduction. Pollinators facilitate the transfer of pollen between flowers, enabling fertilization and seed production. This mutualistic relationship between plants and pollinators is essential for the reproduction of numerous plant species and the maintenance of biodiversity.
8. Water Filtration and Purification: Wetlands and riparian vegetation play vital roles in filtering and purifying water in aquatic ecosystems. Plant roots absorb nutrients and pollutants from water, helping to improve water quality and maintain ecosystem health.
9. Cultural and Aesthetic Value: Plants hold cultural significance and aesthetic value for human societies worldwide. They are integral to religious ceremonies, cultural traditions, and artistic expressions, providing inspiration for literature, art, music, and landscaping.
   
   

The Generosity Continues: A Divine Connection


In Whitehead's philosophical framework, God represents the cosmic mind and subjective unity of the universe. God perceives the potentialities and actualities of the universe, feeling what is and what could be. Each plant, with its unique form and essence, contributes to this divine tapestry.
God's presence within each plant acts as a beckoning call, urging it to unfold its potential and thrive. This inner call, known as the "initial aim," guides the plant's growth, adapting to its circumstances and the wider world. Caring for plants becomes a means of aligning with this divine urge, fostering growth and harmony.


Death and Resurrection: A Cosmic Cycle


In the cycle of life and death, plants play a pivotal role. As they pass on, their energy returns to the Earth, contributing to the sustenance of new life forms. This cycle of death and rebirth embodies a form of divine love, perpetuating the interconnected web of existence.
In essence, plants embody both intrinsic and instrumental value, serving as conduits of divine generosity and essential components of the cosmic dance of life. Recognizing and honoring their contributions deepens our connection to the natural world and reinforces our responsibility to nurture and preserve it