Some Reflections on the Relation Between Whitehead’s Process Philosophy and Gestalt Psychology

Abstract

Abstract Although it is beyond doubt that there were historical connections between Whitehead and some of the proponents of Gestalt psychology, it is difficult to determine on the available body of historical evidence whether they were substantive or just marginal. A detailed comparison of Whitehead’s process metaphysics and the theories of Gestalt psychology is a task yet to be undertaken. Whitehead’s process philosophy and (some forms of) Gestalt psychology share basic similarities in their major principles. This is substantiated by two of Ehrenfels’ well-known gestalt qualities: (1) superadditivity, and (2) figure-ground relation. Both approaches can profit from one another: while Whitehead’s concept of consciousness and its interrelatedness with unconscious processes seems to be more elaborate, the Gestalt psychological approach, on the other hand, shows how these topics can be investigated by using experimental research designs. This is illustrated by an experiment on complex problem solving which demonstrates that unreportable (functionally unconscious) hints can improve even such sophisticated processes as complex problem solving. Since this is what should be expected from a Whiteheadian point of view, the results empirically confirm the process position on perception and thinking. Finally, further interesting possibilities of undertaking future empirical process research are outlined.