Chreods, homeorhesis and biofields: Finding the right path for science through Daoism

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Complexity theory
• Process philosophy

Background:

• C.H. Waddington's concepts of chreods and homeorhesis were foundational to complexity theory but largely overlooked.
• Waddington's work was influenced by Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy, emphasizing self-causing processes over reductionism.
• Western scientific thought often exhibits a bias towards substance-based explanations, neglecting process dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate and advance C.H. Waddington's research program within complexity theory.
• To integrate Waddington's concepts with later developments in complexity science and process philosophy.
• To explore the implications for understanding consciousness through an ontology of creative causal processes.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual integration of Waddington's chreods and homeorhesis with contemporary complexity theories.
• Analysis of influences from process philosophy, particularly Alfred North Whitehead's concept of concrescence.
• Examination of marginalized research programs, including Mae-Wan Ho's work on biology and consciousness.

Main Results:

• Demonstrates how later complexity theory developments (Goodwin, Vitiello, Salthe, Rosen) can augment Waddington's framework.
• Highlights the potential for Waddington's work to inform and advance Mae-Wan Ho's research program.
• Suggests a path towards understanding consciousness via creative causal processes, moving beyond Western reductionist biases.

Conclusions:

• Waddington's concepts provide a vital, yet underutilized, resource for complexity theory.
• An integrated approach, incorporating process philosophy and diverse scientific perspectives, is crucial for advancing biological understanding.
• This framework offers new avenues for exploring the fundamental nature of consciousness.