Speculative Empiricism

Didier Debaise is Director of the Centre for Research in Philosophy at the Free University of Brussels.

'In Speculative Empiricism, Didier Debaise expertly guides the reader on a remarkable voyage through Whitehead's metaphysical masterpiece, Process and Reality. The juxtaposition of the two title words sets the agenda, giving notice from the start that we will be heading into unexpected territory. Here, speculation will become a matter of experience, and experience, reciprocally, will be imbued with the futurity of potential. The result is a novel pragmatics of becoming which Debaise maps with unerring lucidity and precision, providing both an introduction to key Whiteheadian concepts and a major contribution to the scholarship that will be of equal interest to specialists.' - Brian Massumi, University of Montreal

• Translator’s Preface Preface by Isabelle StengersIntroduction Part I: Speculative Philosophy: Method And Function What is Speculative Philosophy? Creativity as Ultimate Principle Actualising Creativity Part II: The Speculative Approach To Existence: Process and Individuation What is a Process of Individuation? What is the Subject? Realisation of Self and Power Pure Potentiality and Actuality Temporal Dimensions of Actual Entities Part III: Experiences And Societies: Thinking Nature A Universe of Societies The Mode of Existence of Societies Nature and Societies Conclusion: What is Speculative Empiricism? Works Cited