因果概念向居西方哲學的核心地位，它不僅有極其重要的認識論上的意義---科學知識建立在因果解釋的基礎上，且有更為根本的本體論和形上學的意義---宇宙萬物遵循齊一律則。同時基於這認識論與形上學的意義，因果概念也與神學、倫理學和其他實踐知識密切相關。「因果問題」同時也是當代哲學基本主要課題，廣泛涉及心靈哲學、科學哲學、行動哲學、法律哲學普遍關切的重要課題。懷德海(A. N. Whitehead)哲學的因果論不僅衍生自淵遠流長的西方哲學傳統（Plato與Aristotle哲學），積極回應自十七世紀科學興起以來目的因果與機械因果之間衝突對立的問題，且有相對論、電磁場論與量子物理學的現代科學背景。其所提出相關形上學與認識論的學說，無不涉及重要的哲學概念，包括時間、變化、必然性、決定、非決定、自由、創生、普遍、偶有、相對、絕對、現實、可能、上帝、知覺、感受、情緒、美感、主體、客體、環境、身體、心靈…等等。是不容忽視的哲學思想。本課程在透過懷德海相關原典導讀，了解其哲學中的因果概念及其與上述課題之關聯。

The concept of cause and effect has always been at the core of Western philosophy. It not only has extremely important epistemological significance - scientific knowledge is based on causal explanation, but also has a more fundamental ontological and metaphysical significance - everything in the universe follows the law of uniformity. At the same time, based on this epistemological and metaphysical meaning, the concept of cause and effect is also closely related to theology, ethics and other practical knowledge. "The problem of causation" is also a basic and major topic in contemporary philosophy, and it widely involves important topics of general concern in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, philosophy of action, and philosophy of law. The causal theory of A. N. Whitehead's philosophy is not only derived from the long-standing Western philosophical tradition (Plato and Aristotle philosophy), but also actively responds to the conflict and opposition between purposive causation and mechanical causation since the rise of science in the seventeenth century. It also has the modern scientific background of relativity, electromagnetic field theory and quantum physics. The relevant metaphysical and epistemological theories he proposed all involve important philosophical concepts, including time, change, necessity, determination, non-determination, freedom, creation, universal, occasional, relative, absolute, reality, possibility, God, perception, feeling, emotion, beauty, subject, object, environment, body, mind...etc. It is a philosophical thought that cannot be ignored. This course uses an introduction to Whitehead's relevant original texts to understand the concept of cause and effect in his philosophy and its connection with the above topics.

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_______ (2003.7.)，〈懷海德與後現代世界觀〉，《東海大學文學院學報》，第44卷，頁240-269。（NSC91-2411-H- 029-001）
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Whitehead, A. N. (1917). The Organisation of Thought Educational and Scientific. London: Williams and Norgate.
_________. (1919). An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural Knowledge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1920). The Concept of Nature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1922). The Principle of Relativity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1925). Science and the Modern World. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1927). Symbolism Its Meaning and Effect. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1929/1978). Process and Reality. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1933). Adventures of Ideas. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1938). Modes of Thought. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1947). Essays in Science and Philosophy. New York: Philosophical Library.

Yu Yixian (1988.11.), "White Head and Simple Positioning", "Chinese Culture Monthly", Issue 109, Taichung: Tunghai University, pp. 46-64.
______ (2000.6.), "Whitehead and the Philosophy of Organisms", "Tunghai Philosophical Research Series", seventh series, Taichung: Tunghai University Institute of Philosophy, pp. 149-178.
Yu Yixian (2001), Whitehead's Natural Philosophy, Taipei: Zhengzhong Book Company.
______ (2002.7.), "The Transformation of Whitehead's Philosophy in Science and the Modern World", "Philosophical Essays", Issue 35, Taipei: Fu Jen Catholic University, pp. 67-124.
______ (2002.7.), "Organism Thought in Whitehead's "Science and the Modern World"", "Journal of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Tunghai University", Volume 43, Pages 107-142.
_______ (2003.7.), "Whitehead and the Postmodern World View", "Journal of the College of Liberal Arts of Tunghai University", Volume 44, Pages 240-269. (NSC91-2411-H- 029-001)
______ (2004.7.), "Research on Whitehead's Metaphysics", "Journal of the College of Liberal Arts, Tunghai University", Volume 45, Pages 375-425. (NSC91-2411-H- 029-001)
______ (2005.7.), "Whitehead's Early Concept of Creation and Its Ideological Background", Taipei: Fu Jen Catholic University, "Philosophical Essays" No. 38, pp. 201-241. (NSC92-2411-H-029-004)

Whitehead, A. N. (1917). The Organization of Thought Educational and Scientific. London: Williams and Norgate.
_________. (1919). An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Natural Knowledge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1920). The Concept of Nature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1922). The Principle of Relativity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________. (1925). Science and the Modern World. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1927). Symbolism Its Meaning and Effect. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1929/1978). Process and Reality. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1933). Adventures of Ideas. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1938). Modes of Thought. New York: Macmillan Company.
_________. (1947). Essays in Science and Philosophy. New York: Philosophical Library.