Cabinets Quote by Alfred North Whitehead
“Disputing the commonsense notion that all events require the prior existence of some underlying matter or substance. There is no antecedent static cabinet.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Process Philosophy, 1920s
The quote challenges the idea that events need pre‑existing material, proposing that reality is fundamentally relational and processual.
In simple terms: Events don’t need prior stuff; they arise from relationships.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the primacy of process over static substance.
Themes
philosophy
metaphysics
process
reality
ontology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- creative collaboration
- conflict resolution
- policy making
Key Concepts
process philosophy
relational ontology
event ontology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do relational processes shape outcomes?
- Can we model events without assuming material foundations?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the role of physical constraints in shaping possibilities.
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
![“I worry about the lack of experience that Rex Tillerson has had on the diplomatic front and, frankly, I think that's true for many of the appointments to [Donald] Trump's cabinet.” quote by Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c4e/claire-mccaskill-5688_appointments_i-worry-about-the-lack-of-experience-tha_143996.jpg)
