In our final Edition update of last year, we started by noting that we had just submitted the completed manuscript for the second volume of Whitehead’s Harvard lectures (HL2) to Edinburgh University Press. After a long copy-editing and proofing process, the proofs have been locked off and the book is ready for publication. We have been advised by EUP that the volume will be out in late January in the UK, and in late February in the US. You can see the finished cover above. We are very proud of this volume, and expect that it will have a significant impact on our understanding of Whitehead’s philosophy.

In the new year, we are planning to hold a virtual conference on the significance of HL2 sometime in late summer or early fall. The details of this are being ironed out, but look for a call for proposals in the new year.

We recently re-worked the pages devoted to the Critical Edition of the WRP website. The landing page for the Critical Edition now provides a useful overview of Edition progress which we will continue to update. If you want a quick update on where we are and where we are headed, that is the place to go. The previous landing page has been partially rewritten and moved to an “About” section.

Recently we announced the creation of a Whitehead Reading Group, which is set to begin meeting in late January 2021 to discuss the content of the Whitehead Research Library (WRL). This group was the brainchild of Brianne Donaldson—assistant professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy at UC Irvine—who approached us with the idea earlier this year. Somewhat to our surprise, the response has been very enthusiastic, as we have had more than sixty registrations since the announcement on December 10. Follow the link above for more information.

Initial transcription of all materials slated for inclusion in the “Collected Papers” volumes has now been completed. We have begun the process of verifying the remaining essays against their originals in preparation for the later phase of critical editing. While we work on the collected papers, editorial assistants have moved on to transcription of student notes slated for a fifth volume of Harvard lectures (transcription of materials for HL3 and HL4 was completed some time ago—six volumes are planned).

As you plan any year-end giving, if you have the means, please consider supporting the Critical Edition of Whitehead. Donations go to help pay for transcription and editing of materials. Donate here.

Yours in the creative advance,