Causality and Anticipation
- 18 July 1975
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 189 (4198) , 194-198
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.189.4198.194
Abstract
I have discussed the problem whether an explanation of the phenomena of life can be deduced from an exclusive reliance on causal relationship as in the currently accepted physical description, or whether attention should be given to something more. For this more the concept of anticipation is taken. Starting from what we observe in our own minds various notions involved in the idea of anticipation have been brought forward. The picture is derived from the philosophy of A. N. Whitehead. It is admissible in this philosophy to postulate an influence of anticipation on the statistical weights which play a part in quantum physics. This influence could change the probability distribution of the results of atomic reactions and thus account for living beings having a way of behavior of their own.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Curiosity and Play: Basic Factors in the Development of LifeScience, 1966
- Quantum Phenomena in BiologyScience, 1960