In Modes of Thought Whitehead writes: "The whole spatial universe is a field of force, or in other words, a field of incessant activity...space apparently empty is the theatre of activities which we do not directly perceive."
In short, empty space is filled with energy-events, with drops of experience, with activity, with actual occasions and yet it it "empty" of enduring objects, John Cobb puts it this way in his Whitehead Wordbook
Empty space is not empty of actual occasions. In Whitehead’s view something is going on everywhere, even in a vacuum. There is energy there. But in empty space nothing endures. Accordingly there is nothing that moves and nothing that can be measured. The relations of an occasion in empty space to earlier occasions are just as important to its existence as are relations to past occasions in the occasions that make up societies, but they do not generate social order. Empty space is space that is empty of societies.
Below I offer nine reflections on the metaphysics and spirituality of empty space. The title of this essay - the Creative Void - is meant to suggest that empty space is devoid of enduring objects, and yet deeply creative in the absence of endurance. The Creative Void is not a vacuum but rather a theatre of vitality, actual and potential. In some respects it is like Creativity in the philosophy of Whitehead: the ultimate reality. And yet it does not exist without forms. It is like the empty space of a bell. It makes the sound possible, but needs the metal for the sound.
Prevalence of Empty Space: There's a vast amount of empty space, both in the macroscopic scale of outer space and within microscopic entities, between their component parts. From atoms to galaxies, empty space is a dominant feature of existence.
Absence of Structured Entities: In truly "empty" space, there are no structured societies, using Whitehead's terminology, which means no entities with an organized structure moving from one location to another. Thus, in such regions, there's no motion as we typically understand it.
No Measurable Movement: Because structured entities are absent, movement cannot be measured in the traditional sense. However, despite the lack of measurable movement, empty space is filled with energy, manifesting as momentary pulsations that come into being and then perish in a continual cycle.
Energy-Events as Quantum Fluctuations: These pulsations, known as quantum fluctuations, are subtle but powerful energetic activities that constantly emerge and disappear. This empty space is far from a static vacuum; it functions as a "theatre of incessant activity," where creative energy contributes to the dynamic nature of reality.
Metaphor for Self-Creativity: The incessant creativity of empty space can serve as a metaphor for the internal constitution of each actual entity. Just as empty space generates activity from nothingness, so too does each entity have an unstructured empty space within it; generating its own creativity in relational response to the surrounding world—specifically, the past actual world—which is part of its constitution as well. This highlights the interconnectedness of all entities and their creative engagement with the world around them. As Buddhists would put it, the Emptiness within each actual entity is a theatre for the Forms that fill it.
Metaphor for Pure Potentiality: Empty space can also symbolize pure potentiality. It serves as a "place" where all potentialities reside, aligning with Whitehead's concept of the realm of eternal objects, the repository of all possibilities. Thus empty space offers a metaphor for what he calls the Primordial Nature of God.
Metaphor for Divine Receptivity: Empty space can also be understood as a metaphor for the vast, spacious reception of all events, much like the Consequent Nature of God in Whitehead's metaphysics. This is the ultimate empathy, the divine response to and absorption of all experiences in the universe.
Metaphor for Creative Stillness: If there is "movement" in God, it is not physical movement from one location to another, but more like an emotional flow that is "empty" of self-centeredness yet "filled" with creativity. God's flow is a continuous, responsive presence, where creativity and compassion are expressed without the need for physical movement. Being "unmoved" in a spatial sense, God remains ever-present and active through this creative flow that transcends the need for movement. It is a creative stillness.
Emptiness as Openness: Emptiness can also be understood as a quality of mind and heart, signifying a profound openness. This openness is an inner state free from self-centeredness, preconceptions, and attachments, allowing for the spontaneous flow of creativity, compassion, and receptivity to new experiences. In this sense, emptiness as openness creates space for transformation, wisdom, and relational engagement with the world. It embodies a readiness to receive and respond to life's possibilities, much like the empty space in the universe is filled with creative potential.
None of this means that a scientific understanding of empty space logically leads to the metaphysical and spiritual reflections outlined in points 5-9. However, it does mean that empty space, as understood in science, can enrich our lives metaphysically and spiritually. The dynamic, energetic nature of empty space—its inherent creativity, potentiality, and openness—offers metaphors that can deepen our understanding of the universe and our place within it. Science and spirituality, while distinct in approach, can intersect in ways that provide meaningful insights into the nature of existence, creativity, and interconnectedness.