It must be emphasized, however, that an entity is not merely a sum of its relations, but also a valuation of them and reaction to them. For Whitehead, creativity is the absolute principle of existence, and every entity (whether it is a human being, a tree, or an electron) has some degree of novelty in how it responds to other entities, and is not fully determined by causal or mechanistic laws. Of course, most entities do not have consciousness. As a human being's actions cannot always be predicted, the same can be said of where a tree's roots will grow, or how an electron will move, or whether it will rain tomorrow. Moreover, inability to predict an electron's movement (for instance) is not due to faulty understanding or inadequate technology; rather, the fundamental creativity/freedom of all entities means that there will always remain phenomena that are unpredictable. COUNT 7
QSN1 What did Whitehead believe regarding creativity? ANS1 creativity is the absolute principle of existence QSN2 An entity is a sum of relations, a valuation of them and what else? ANS2 reaction to them. QSN3 Most entities do not have what? ANS3 consciousness QSN4 All entities, being unable to predict behavior, are because of what? ANS4 the fundamental creativity/freedom of all entities QSN5 Not being able to predict what any entity is going to do is what principle b Whitehead? ANS5 creativity is the absolute principle of existence QSN6 Other than the combination of its relations, what else defines an entity? ANS6 an entity is not merely a sum of its relations, but also a valuation of them and reaction to them QSN7 What did Whitehead believe about an entity's relation to other entities? ANS7 has some degree of novelty in how it responds to other entities, and is not fully determined by causal or mechanistic laws