Athearn, Daniel.  "Whitehead as Natural Philosopher: Anachronism or Visionary?"  Process Studies 26, nos. 3-4 (Fall-Winter 1997): 293-307.

Abstract

This article locates Whitehead's physics within the "natural philosophy" tradition of Faraday and Maxwell which held that physical theory is not exhausted by mathematical methods but includes physical (or causal) explanation of phenomena as well.  It argues that despite his isolated status as a physicist, Whitehead entirely fills the bill for Maxwell's "next great philosopher" who would carry forward Faraday's quest to understand the physical field.  It suggests that a physical ontology along Whiteheadian lines is capable of fully restoring the ambitions of classical natural philosophy while superseding mechanistic concepts; the resulting account of the nature of fields and radiation is summarized.  Some implications for the topic of Whitehead's transition from naturalism to metaphysics are discussed.  [Abstract from The Philosopher's Index]