Concepts are connected by relationships drawn from Whitehead's Process Philosophy. Start here if you're new.
Why these terms? The relationships between concepts use vocabulary from
Alfred North Whitehead's Process and Reality. Whitehead developed a comprehensive categorical scheme
showing how metaphysical concepts necessarily relate to each other. These relationships map how his process philosophy
unfolds from first principles.
Read each relationship as a sentence: "Concept A [RELATIONSHIP] Concept B"
ENTAILS Logical Implication
If A is true, then B necessarily follows. You cannot have A without B.
A → ENTAILS → B = "If A, then necessarily B"
Creativity ENTAILS Process — The ultimate principle of creativity necessarily implies that reality is processual.
DERIVES_FROM Prerequisite / Dependency
To understand A, you must first understand B. B is a prerequisite for A.
A → DERIVES_FROM → B = "To understand A, you need B first"
Concrescence DERIVES_FROM Prehension — To understand concrescence, you must first understand prehension.
GENERALIZES Abstracts / Extends
A is a more abstract, general, or developed form of B. A takes B to a higher level.
A → GENERALIZES → B = "A is a more abstract form of B"
Prehension GENERALIZES Physical Prehension — Prehension is the general concept; physical prehension is one mode.
PARTICULARIZES Instance / Specific Case
A is a concrete example or specific instance of B. A makes B tangible.
A → PARTICULARIZES → B = "A is a specific instance of B"
Society PARTICULARIZES Nexus — A society is a specific kind of nexus with shared characteristics.
CONSTRAINS Limits / Bounds
A places limits on B. A defines the boundaries within which B operates.
A → CONSTRAINS → B = "A limits what B can achieve"
Categoreal Obligations CONSTRAINS Concrescence — The categoreal obligations limit how concrescence can proceed.
ENABLES Makes Possible
A creates the conditions for B to exist. Without A, B wouldn't be possible.
A → ENABLES → B = "A makes B possible"
Objective Immortality ENABLES Physical Prehension — Perished occasions must be objectively immortal to be physically prehended.
CONTRASTS Differs From
A and B are different in important ways. Understanding the contrast illuminates both.
A ↔ CONTRASTS ↔ B = "A and B differ in important ways" (bidirectional)
Internal Relations CONTRASTS External Relations — These represent fundamentally opposed views of how entities relate.
ANALOGOUS_TO Structural Similarity
A and B share structural or functional similarities, often across different domains.
A ↔ ANALOGOUS_TO ↔ B = "A works like B" (bidirectional)
Eternal Objects ANALOGOUS_TO Plato's Forms — Both are pure potentials, but Whitehead's are relational, not independent.
Tip: Follow DERIVES_FROM chains to find prerequisites. Follow GENERALIZES to go deeper. Follow PARTICULARIZES to find concrete examples. Only CONTRASTS and ANALOGOUS_TO are bidirectional — all others are directional.