Alfred North Whitehead

Date of Birth: February 15, 1861

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 30, 1947

Biography

Alfred North Whitehead was an influential English mathematician and philosopher, best known for his work in mathematical logic and the philosophy of science. Born on February 15, 1861, in Ramsgate, Kent, England, Whitehead made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and philosophy throughout his life. Whitehead was educated at Sherborne School and later at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he excelled in mathematics. He became a Fellow of Trinity College in 1884, and his early work focused on algebra and the foundations of mathematics. Whitehead co-authored the landmark three-volume work “Principia Mathematica” with his former student Bertrand Russell, a text that sought to ground mathematics in logical foundations. In 1910, Whitehead moved to London, where he took a position at the University of London. It was here that he began to shift his focus from pure mathematics to the philosophy of science and metaphysics. Whitehead’s later works, such as “Science and the Modern World” (1925) and “Process and Reality” (1929), laid the groundwork for process philosophy, which views reality as a process of becoming rather than as a collection of static entities. Whitehead emigrated to the United States in 1924 to join the faculty of Harvard University, where he continued to teach and write until his retirement in 1937. He passed away on December 30, 1947, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Whitehead’s interdisciplinary approach and his insistence on the interconnectedness of different fields of study have left a lasting impact on both the sciences and the humanities.

5 Interesting Facts about Alfred North Whitehead

1. Alfred North Whitehead was one of the co-authors of “Principia Mathematica,” which is considered one of the most important works in mathematical logic.

2. He shifted his academic focus from mathematics to philosophy in his mid-40s.

3. Whitehead was a key figure in the development of process philosophy, which has influenced various fields including theology, ecology, and education.

4. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 63 to join the faculty of Harvard University.

5. Whitehead received numerous honorary degrees from prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and the University of Edinburgh.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Alfred North Whitehead

1. “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.”

2. “Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge.”

3. “It takes an extraordinary intelligence to contemplate the obvious.”

4. “The purpose of thinking is to let the ideas die instead of us dying.”

5. “Science is rooted in the will to truth, but it owes its origin to the will to power.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There is no specific record of Alfred North Whitehead’s net worth, but his highest professional salary was likely as a professor at Harvard University.

Children

Alfred North Whitehead had three children with his wife Evelyn Wade: 1. Thomas North Whitehead (1891-1969), who became a noted sociologist. 2. Jessie Whitehead (1893-1953), who led a relatively private life. 3. Eric Whitehead (1898-1918), who sadly died in combat during World War I.