Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash
Ideas to Consider
- Life is everywhere (broad definition): If life is defined broadly, referring to spontaneity, self-creativity, and a capacity for prehending the past, then it exists everywhere, including in the depths of inorganic matter.
- Life as a more narrow concept: If life is understood more narrowly, along the lines of what we find in biological life on Earth, it is not everywhere but rather limited to certain portions of the Earth and perhaps also beyond, in the cosmos where conditions may support it.
- Life as a dynamic force: Whitehead describes life as a dynamic, rebellious force, existing beyond simple definitions and resisting stasis.
- Freedom and non-conformity: Life, for Whitehead, is a bid for freedom and autonomy, thriving in the spaces where conformity ends, and creativity begins.
- Interstices and vitality: Life is not found in rigid systems but in the interstices, or gaps, where creativity and vitality emerge in unexpected ways.
- Rebellion against repetition: Life pushes back against repetitive, mechanical forces in the universe, asserting itself as an offensive against stagnation.
- Limited survival value: While life is creative and dynamic, Whitehead acknowledges that it has limited survival value compared to non-living entities, which often persist longer.
- Intrinsic value of life: Life is its own intrinsic reward, existing for the sake of reaping value and meaning, independent of external purposes.
- Unrealized ideals shaping life: The purpose and value of human life are shaped by unrealized ideals, which influence actions and goals, giving life depth and meaning.
- Rhythm as a universal principle: The rhythm that pervades life and the physical world suggests a deep connection between life’s flow and the structure of all reality.
- Mathematics as a reflection of life: Mathematical patterns, like the Fibonacci sequence and fractals, mirror the growth and structure of life, showing a link between the abstract and organic.
- Life transcending mathematics: While mathematics reveals life’s external forms, it cannot fully capture life’s spontaneity, creativity, and subjective experiences, which resist reduction to formulas.
- Mathematics as a form of life: Mathematical thinking, through its exploration of natural and abstract patterns, offers a valuable and enriching way of engaging with life, connecting us to both the tangible and transcendent aspects of existence.
- Mathematics revealing cosmic beauty: The elegance of mathematical forms, such as the Fibonacci sequence or fractals, mirrors the beauty in nature and offers insight into the deeper, universal order of life and the cosmos.
Further Discussion
Life is one of those indefinable notions, not merely a concept, but more akin to a feeling. So writes Roland Faber, the leading Whitehead scholar of our time, in his chapter on "Life" in The Mind of Whitehead. Faber begins with ten quotations from Whitehead’s works, each offering a distinctive perspective on life. He then proceeds to interpret the core ideas in each quotation. The ten quotations are:
• "An 'entirely living' nexus is, in respect to its life, not social." (Process and Reality, 106–7)
• "Life is a bid for freedom." (Process and Reality, 104)
• "Life is robbery." (Process and Reality, 105)
• "Life lurks in the interstices." (Process and Reality, 105–6)
• "Complete conformity means the loss of life." (Modes of Thought, 62)
• "Life is an offensive, directed against the repetitious mechanism of the Universe." (Adventures of Ideas, 80)
• "Life itself is comparatively deficient in survival value. The art of persistence is to be dead." (Function of Reason, 4)
• "It is the essence of life that it exists for its own sake, as the intrinsic reaping of value." (Modes of Thought, 135)
• "The life of a human being receives its worth, its importance, from the way in which unrealized ideals shape its purposes and tinge its actions." (Modes of Thought, 27)
• "The Way of Rhythm pervades all life, and indeed all physical existence. This common principle of Rhythm is one of the reasons for believing that the root principles of life are, in some lowly form, exemplified in all types of physical existence." (Function of Reason, 21)
From these ten quotes, it may be challenging to construct a complete philosophy of life, but they offer crucial hints. If life is defined narrowly nor broadly (see above), Whitehead portrays life as a dynamic, often rebellious force. Life is described as a bid for freedom, an offensive against the repetitive mechanisms of the universe, and something that exists for its own intrinsic value. It thrives in the gaps, the interstices of existence, while complete conformity to external forces results in its loss. Though life itself may have limited survival value compared to non-living entities, its worth lies in how unrealized ideals shape its purposes and actions. Rhythm, as a common principle in life and all physical existence, suggests that the essential principles of life are present across all forms of reality. Life’s vitality is expressed through its defiance of stasis and conformity, striving for freedom and meaning.
*
Life’s relationship to mathematics is both revealing and incomplete. On one side, mathematics uncovers the patterns and structures that underlie life’s processes, providing a framework for understanding the rhythms and regularities found in nature. The Fibonacci sequence, which appears in the arrangement of leaves, the spirals of shells, and the branching of trees, exemplifies how mathematical principles mirror the organic growth and structure of living organisms. Similarly, fractal patterns in nature—such as in ferns or blood vessels—reflect a self-similarity that reveals nature’s inherent efficiency and complexity. These patterns suggest that life evolves in accordance with certain mathematical laws, and biologists use mathematical models to explain everything from population dynamics to genetic inheritance. In this sense, mathematics offers a powerful tool to describe life’s external forms and processes, from cellular rhythms to ecosystems.
Yet, despite these insights, life transcends mathematics in crucial ways. While mathematics is essential for identifying order and structure, it cannot fully account for the spontaneity, creativity, and novelty that characterize life. Whitehead’s philosophy emphasizes this creative advance, where life is always evolving, always bringing something new into being that cannot be predicted based on previous patterns. Each moment in life represents not merely the continuation of existing structures but the emergence of something unique and unpredictable—a spontaneous act of creation. This spontaneity is especially evident in the subjective experiences of living beings. While mathematical models can explain physical processes, they cannot capture the inner world of emotions, desires, and decisions. The feelings, consciousness, and intentional actions that are central to life transcend the constraints of mathematical formulas. Life is not simply about survival or repetition of patterns; it involves a depth of experience and a capacity for agency that cannot be reduced to numbers. Whitehead’s idea that “life is a bid for freedom” highlights this aspect—life constantly pushes against constraints, seeking new possibilities and resisting stasis.
Moreover, living beings exhibit a kind of free will and agency that defies deterministic models. While mathematics can predict certain outcomes in closed systems, the freedom inherent in life means that not all behaviors or events can be anticipated. Life is full of surprises, randomness, and chaos—elements that reveal a richness and unpredictability far beyond what can be captured in equations. Even within mathematical models themselves, chaos theory shows that small variations can lead to vastly different outcomes, reinforcing the idea that life, while structured, also contains an irreducible element of uncertainty. This adds another layer to life’s transcendence over mathematics: while certain aspects of life can be described by formulas, the deeper, more creative forces of existence resist being fully contained. Ultimately, while mathematics reveals the underlying patterns of life, it cannot encapsulate the full reality of life’s concrete spontaneity, novelty, and subjective depth. Life is more than its patterns. It is an ongoing creative process that continuously brings forth new possibilities, defying rigid structures and formulas, and allowing for freedom, growth, and unexpected beauty.
*
Mathematics, far from being a mere abstract system of rules, reveals the profound beauty woven into the fabric of reality. The elegance of mathematical forms—such as the Fibonacci sequence or fractal patterns—mirrors the beauty found in nature’s growth and design. As we encounter these patterns in living organisms, from the spirals of galaxies to the branching of trees, we are reminded of the intricate connections that define the very structure of life. Mathematics offers a way of seeing this harmony, presenting a universal language that bridges human experience with the vastness of the cosmos.
However, the beauty of mathematics does not end with the tangible forms of nature. It also leads us to contemplate connections that extend beyond life as we know it. Mathematical truths are timeless and abstract, existing independently of the physical universe. They point to a deeper order, one that transcends the cycles of life and death, connecting us to the infinite patterns of existence itself. Whether we understand these patterns as the principles guiding evolution, the structure of galaxies, or the potentiality of the universe, mathematics provides us with a way of grasping the interconnectedness of all things—living and non-living, temporal and eternal.
In this sense, mathematics becomes a spiritual practice, a tool for appreciating the beauty of life and the cosmos. Just as poetry and art capture the emotions and essence of human experience, mathematics opens a window to the abstract and eternal, allowing us to glimpse the universal rhythms and structures that govern all reality. It invites us to see the cosmos not just as a collection of objects but as a living system of relationships, where beauty emerges from connection and order. Through this lens, we can appreciate life not only for its fleeting moments of spontaneity but also for its deep connection to the patterns of the universe, which endure beyond the boundaries of individual lives. Thus, mathematics serves as a way of appreciating both the immediate beauty of life and the transcendent patterns that connect all existence.
• "An 'entirely living' nexus is, in respect to its life, not social." (Process and Reality, 106–7)
• "Life is a bid for freedom." (Process and Reality, 104)
• "Life is robbery." (Process and Reality, 105)
• "Life lurks in the interstices." (Process and Reality, 105–6)
• "Complete conformity means the loss of life." (Modes of Thought, 62)
• "Life is an offensive, directed against the repetitious mechanism of the Universe." (Adventures of Ideas, 80)
• "Life itself is comparatively deficient in survival value. The art of persistence is to be dead." (Function of Reason, 4)
• "It is the essence of life that it exists for its own sake, as the intrinsic reaping of value." (Modes of Thought, 135)
• "The life of a human being receives its worth, its importance, from the way in which unrealized ideals shape its purposes and tinge its actions." (Modes of Thought, 27)
• "The Way of Rhythm pervades all life, and indeed all physical existence. This common principle of Rhythm is one of the reasons for believing that the root principles of life are, in some lowly form, exemplified in all types of physical existence." (Function of Reason, 21)
From these ten quotes, it may be challenging to construct a complete philosophy of life, but they offer crucial hints. If life is defined narrowly nor broadly (see above), Whitehead portrays life as a dynamic, often rebellious force. Life is described as a bid for freedom, an offensive against the repetitive mechanisms of the universe, and something that exists for its own intrinsic value. It thrives in the gaps, the interstices of existence, while complete conformity to external forces results in its loss. Though life itself may have limited survival value compared to non-living entities, its worth lies in how unrealized ideals shape its purposes and actions. Rhythm, as a common principle in life and all physical existence, suggests that the essential principles of life are present across all forms of reality. Life’s vitality is expressed through its defiance of stasis and conformity, striving for freedom and meaning.
*
Life’s relationship to mathematics is both revealing and incomplete. On one side, mathematics uncovers the patterns and structures that underlie life’s processes, providing a framework for understanding the rhythms and regularities found in nature. The Fibonacci sequence, which appears in the arrangement of leaves, the spirals of shells, and the branching of trees, exemplifies how mathematical principles mirror the organic growth and structure of living organisms. Similarly, fractal patterns in nature—such as in ferns or blood vessels—reflect a self-similarity that reveals nature’s inherent efficiency and complexity. These patterns suggest that life evolves in accordance with certain mathematical laws, and biologists use mathematical models to explain everything from population dynamics to genetic inheritance. In this sense, mathematics offers a powerful tool to describe life’s external forms and processes, from cellular rhythms to ecosystems.
Yet, despite these insights, life transcends mathematics in crucial ways. While mathematics is essential for identifying order and structure, it cannot fully account for the spontaneity, creativity, and novelty that characterize life. Whitehead’s philosophy emphasizes this creative advance, where life is always evolving, always bringing something new into being that cannot be predicted based on previous patterns. Each moment in life represents not merely the continuation of existing structures but the emergence of something unique and unpredictable—a spontaneous act of creation. This spontaneity is especially evident in the subjective experiences of living beings. While mathematical models can explain physical processes, they cannot capture the inner world of emotions, desires, and decisions. The feelings, consciousness, and intentional actions that are central to life transcend the constraints of mathematical formulas. Life is not simply about survival or repetition of patterns; it involves a depth of experience and a capacity for agency that cannot be reduced to numbers. Whitehead’s idea that “life is a bid for freedom” highlights this aspect—life constantly pushes against constraints, seeking new possibilities and resisting stasis.
Moreover, living beings exhibit a kind of free will and agency that defies deterministic models. While mathematics can predict certain outcomes in closed systems, the freedom inherent in life means that not all behaviors or events can be anticipated. Life is full of surprises, randomness, and chaos—elements that reveal a richness and unpredictability far beyond what can be captured in equations. Even within mathematical models themselves, chaos theory shows that small variations can lead to vastly different outcomes, reinforcing the idea that life, while structured, also contains an irreducible element of uncertainty. This adds another layer to life’s transcendence over mathematics: while certain aspects of life can be described by formulas, the deeper, more creative forces of existence resist being fully contained. Ultimately, while mathematics reveals the underlying patterns of life, it cannot encapsulate the full reality of life’s concrete spontaneity, novelty, and subjective depth. Life is more than its patterns. It is an ongoing creative process that continuously brings forth new possibilities, defying rigid structures and formulas, and allowing for freedom, growth, and unexpected beauty.
*
Mathematics, far from being a mere abstract system of rules, reveals the profound beauty woven into the fabric of reality. The elegance of mathematical forms—such as the Fibonacci sequence or fractal patterns—mirrors the beauty found in nature’s growth and design. As we encounter these patterns in living organisms, from the spirals of galaxies to the branching of trees, we are reminded of the intricate connections that define the very structure of life. Mathematics offers a way of seeing this harmony, presenting a universal language that bridges human experience with the vastness of the cosmos.
However, the beauty of mathematics does not end with the tangible forms of nature. It also leads us to contemplate connections that extend beyond life as we know it. Mathematical truths are timeless and abstract, existing independently of the physical universe. They point to a deeper order, one that transcends the cycles of life and death, connecting us to the infinite patterns of existence itself. Whether we understand these patterns as the principles guiding evolution, the structure of galaxies, or the potentiality of the universe, mathematics provides us with a way of grasping the interconnectedness of all things—living and non-living, temporal and eternal.
In this sense, mathematics becomes a spiritual practice, a tool for appreciating the beauty of life and the cosmos. Just as poetry and art capture the emotions and essence of human experience, mathematics opens a window to the abstract and eternal, allowing us to glimpse the universal rhythms and structures that govern all reality. It invites us to see the cosmos not just as a collection of objects but as a living system of relationships, where beauty emerges from connection and order. Through this lens, we can appreciate life not only for its fleeting moments of spontaneity but also for its deep connection to the patterns of the universe, which endure beyond the boundaries of individual lives. Thus, mathematics serves as a way of appreciating both the immediate beauty of life and the transcendent patterns that connect all existence.