Japanese Mangas Similar to Whitehead Philosophy
title: «Japanese Mangas Similar to Whitehead Philosophy» date: «2026-05-07 20:15»
Of course. This is a fascinating and highly specific question. The direct answer is: No, there are no mainstream manga that explicitly name-drop Alfred North Whitehead or directly lecture about process philosophy.
However, the indirect and more interesting answer is: Yes, absolutely. Many iconic and philosophically rich manga explore the core themes of Whitehead’s process philosophy in their narrative, world-building, and core themes, making them excellent vehicles for this kind of philosophical inquiry.
Whitehead’s process philosophy, in simple terms, argues that reality is not made of static “things” (substances) but of dynamic, interconnected “processes” and “events.” Key ideas include:
· Process Over Substance: Being is becoming. Everything is in a constant state of flux and relation. · Relationality: Entities are defined by their relationships to everything else in the world (“prehension”). · Creativity: The universe is fundamentally creative, constantly producing novel events and entities. · Panexperientialism: Experience, or something analogous to it, is fundamental to all entities, not just humans.
Many manga deeply engage with these very concepts. Here are the best examples:
- Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei
This is perhaps the purest embodiment of process philosophy in manga form.
· The Connection: The setting is the Megastructure—a vast, ever-expanding, self-building city that has grown beyond human control. The environment itself is the ultimate process: it’s not a static place but a relentless, chaotic, and creative act of building. · Whiteheadian Themes: The plot involves a constant struggle against a process (the Safeguard’s extermination protocol) rather than a singular villain. Entities like the Silicon Creatures are manifestations of the system’s ongoing evolution. The protagonist, Killy, is less a traditional hero and more a “vector” within this process, seeking to influence its direction (by finding the Net Terminal Gene). The world is the ultimate example of reality as a creative, relational, and often terrifying process.
- Battle Angel Alita (Gunnm) by Yukito Kishiro
This series is a deep dive into process ontology through the lens of cyborg identity.
· The Connection: The central question of the manga is “What is a human?” Alita’s body is constantly changing, being destroyed, and rebuilt. Her identity isn’t rooted in a fixed physical form but in her continuous stream of consciousness, memories, and experiences (her “process” of being). · Whiteheadian Themes: The world of Zalem and the Scrapyard is a complex system of interrelated parts. Characters are defined by their functions and relationships within this system. The theme of panexperientialism is explored with non-human entities like the werewolf cyborg Figure Four and even the supercomputer Melchizedek, which possesses a form of consciousness born from its data-processing “experience.”
- Made in Abyss by Akihito Tsukushi
This manga is a literal descent into a world where the environment itself is a active, process-driven agent.
· The Connection: The Abyss is not a passive hole in the ground. It is a dynamic, living (or at least process-driven) entity with its own rules, forces (the Curse), and biology. Its very nature changes those who enter it, physically and mentally. · Whiteheadian Themes: The “value” of an entity in the Abyss is entirely relational and processual. A simple flower or a creature’s whistle is defined by its interaction with the Abyss’s unique forces. The characters’ journey is a process of becoming something else entirely, forced to adapt and relate to a world that is fundamentally creative and destructive. The Curse is a perfect metaphor for prehension—the way the Abyss “grasps” and changes everything within it.
- Girls’ Last Tour (Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou) by Tsukumizu
A minimalist and meditative take on process and relationship.
· The Connection: In a dead, post-industrial world, the two protagonists have no grand goal of “fixing” the world (a substance-based view). Instead, they simply exist and find meaning in the process of traveling, exploring, and relating to each other and the ruins around them. · Whiteheadian Themes: The manga argues that meaning isn’t a thing to be found but is generated through the process of living and the relationships between entities (the girls, their kettenkrad, a fish, a photograph). Each chapter is a small “event” where new connections are made, embodying Whitehead’s idea that reality is a series of interconnected occasions of experience.
- Monster by Naoki Urasawa
While a psychological thriller, it tackles the processual nature of identity and good/evil.
· The Connection: The central question is whether a “monster” is a fixed substance (an evil person) or something that emerges from a process of relationships, choices, and trauma. · Whiteheadian Themes: Johan’s identity is portrayed as a terrifyingly fluid process, shaped and reshaped by the events and people around him. Dr. Tenma’s journey is about understanding the relational network that created Johan and his own role within that process. It argues that good and evil are not static labels but emergent properties of a complex web of interactions.
Honorable Mention: Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida
A chaotic world where magic is a fundamental, messy process that alters reality and flesh on a whim.
· The Connection: The world of Dorohedoro is one of constant, grungy transformation. Magic users process the world around them, and their victims are often left in horrifically altered states. Identity is fluid, bodies are malleable, and the line between human, monster, and demon is a process of continuous change. · Whiteheadian Themes: The entire setting is a testament to a universe of creative, violent, and interconnected processes where everything is relational and nothing is permanent.
In conclusion: While you won’t find a character explaining the “philosophy of organism,” you will find numerous manga that think in a Whiteheadian way. They present worlds where change is fundamental, identity is processual, and everything is defined by its relationships. For a reader familiar with process philosophy, these works become rich texts for exploration.