Process Philosophy Research Articles

Dis-automatising (software) codification

“Applications” of knowledge symbolically and structurally “codify” thinking, often displacing the human who is relegated to passive, routine reproduction of operations and left with no space or time to understand or question the relations underlying the processes. This is both mirrored and augmented by the schematic narrowing of computational, calculative reason and nebulous or hidden code that is often read-only if human-readable at all. According to French philosopher Bernard Stiegler, this has toxic effects on learning, systemically and progressively embedding failures to think, hindering the potential for the collective and individual human adoption and adaptation of the knowledge of life. This article presents a process-based model to care for this problem through Stieglerian critical pedagogy, phenomenography, and process philosophy. The model evolved out of a course with the aim to achieve collective cultural literacy in that which “goes without saying” in the increasingly ubiquitous digital design of everyday life.

Fragments of Thought: Considering Sophie Germain’s Process Epistemology

Abstract In this paper I look at the philosophical work of Sophie Germain, a woman mathematician and philosopher in nineteenth-century France. Although forgotten after her death, Germain’s contribution to mathematical sciences has been revisited and reappraised in recent years, but with very few notable exceptions, her philosophical work is still in the margins. In addressing this gap in the literature, I revisit Germain’s contribution to the history of ideas, particularly focusing on her contribution to process epistemologies. I argue that Germain was a truly transdisciplinary thinker avant la lettre and that her philosophical work should be mapped in the wider field of process philosophies. In doing so I make connections between Sophie Germain and Alfred Whitehead’s philosophy of the organism, particularly focusing on their take on feelings, prehensions, happy ideas, and events.

Rethinking Modern Process Thought: A Brief Historiographical Survey

By all accounts, Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) is virtually synonymous with process thought, including its more specific expressions as process philosophy and theology. This is most often assumed with little regard for the origins of modern process thought itself. Nicholas Rescher, reflecting on this fact, has called the pluralization of the field the “cardinal task” of all process proponents. This charge, given nearly thirty years ago, remains unfulfilled. Despite the fact that other candidates are available, the preeminence of this singular figure, and subordinately his later interpreter Charles Hartshorne (1897–2000), has led to what may be called “The Whitehead/Hartshorne Factor” in virtually all aspects of process thought. This has functioned as a limiting factor in the promotion of processual ideas, a phenomenon noted during the earliest years of modern process history. This historiographical review will outline the features of these limitations and suggest a broader process approach that works to the benefit of its theological branch in particular. This paper dares to ask the “heretical” question, what would process philosophy and theology look like without Whitehead? Ironically, with the most recent analysis of Whitehead scholarship, the answer is hidden in plain sight.

A Metaphysical Analysis of Chemical Change: Toward a Reconciliation of Whiteheadian Process Metaphysics and Aristotelian-Scholastic Substance Metaphysics

Abstract Can a bridge be constructed between Whiteheadian process metaphysics and Aristotelian-Scholastic substance metaphysics? I ask this question in the context of physical change, using the chemical transformation of molecules as the quintessential exemplar. While both metaphysical systems describe nature as dynamical and relational, each sees change differently: for process metaphysics, change is constitutive of all actualities, while for substance metaphysics, change is secondary and something that happens to actualities. My analysis concludes that these two systems of thought have fundamental metaphysical differences that do not permit a reconciliation. Rather than reconciliation, what might be possible is the development of a new way to speak about the actualities of world, not as substances or processes but a way that subsumes both.

Personal Identity Matters

Abstract This article considers whether process philosophy can provide a more promising basis for understanding the closely related problems of persons and personal identity than more traditional or mainstream philosophical approaches. In particular, the article focuses on whether process conceptions of persons and personal identity provide an approach that offers greater potential for resolving the duplication and fission examples within the literature in this area than the approaches taken by Bernard Williams and Derek Parfit.

Learning from Two Early Brownfield Redevelopment Projects in Italy: Soil Desealing, Cooling Effects, and Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions Through Traditional Planning Tools

Consideration of the future fate of brownfields in urban environments has driven a complex ‘season’ of decisions, planning, and implementation that has seen the emergence of different approaches and actions for their reuse. Among the various experiences of brownfield redevelopment, some projects have also promoted the partial renaturalisation of areas through soil desealing and demolition of existing buildings. These greening initiatives have provided new public facilities, e.g., parks and green areas, helping to improve the conditions of urban environments both from ecological and social perspectives. This article adopts ex ante and ex post methods to analyse two Italian case studies of brownfield regeneration involving desealing interventions and investigates two key aspects: (i) the planning process and tools that were put in place to implement the projects and (ii) the impacts for human wellbeing that were produced in terms of cooling effects. The analyses conducted show the real effectiveness of renaturation interventions especially related to reforestation measures in terms of temperature reduction. The examination of the two case studies also revealed the importance and potential success of traditional planning and implementation tools in promoting interventions that can now be considered innovative in terms of their actual contribution to current urban challenges. The results therefore allow us to emphasize the fundamental importance of the philosophy and basic principles of a transformation process, even guided by traditional planning tools, for the improvement of the environmental conditions of an urban context and the successful implementation of nature-based solutions.

Movement as Environmental Communication: A Heuristic of Embodied Rhetorical Placemaking

ABSTRACT This essay develops the theorization of movement as a mode of environmental communication, offering a heuristic of embodied rhetorical placemaking through the concepts of passage, event, and interval. Adapted from Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy, these concepts respectively identify transition, punctuation, and anticipation as distinct forms of movement that collectively capacitate how people come to know the places they tread. Exploring this heuristic in an ethnographic case study of wilderness trip reporting, this essay examines how a Maine-based outdoors reporter physically traverses nature trails for digital recording purposes. Guided by Whiteheadian thought, this analysis reveals a dynamic confluence of transitions, punctuations, and anticipations, enacted in more-than-human relationships, constitutes placemaking. By emphasizing the diverse materiality and formational quality of movement, this heuristic has implications beyond outdoor recreation for theorizing communication, analyzing placemaking, and practicing fieldwork.

The Morality of Markets: Buddhism, Emptiness, and a Process Philosophy Theory of Markets

The Morality of Markets: Buddhism, Emptiness, and a Process Philosophy Theory of Markets

IMPLIKASI FILSAFAT HEGEL DALAM ETIKA PENDIDIKAN KRISTEN

It is undeniable that some philosophical sciences greatly influence Christian education today. In some universities, philosophy is combined with Christian theology and even produces scholars of philosophy of theology. Methods and philosophies of thinking in philosophy are often applied in scientific studies of Christian education today to find an objective truth. In this study, the researcher examines the implications of the thought of a famous modern philosopher, namely George W. F Hegel, on Christian education. Researchers find both in the study of literature that there are several contributions of Hegel's philosophy that have an impact on Christian education today. The religious philosophy of objectivity and subjectivity, the philosophy of process, the philosophy of dialectics, some of Hegel's philosophies found by researchers, have contributed greatly to Christian education today. The philosophies above can be applied by students in teaching education. For example, the implications of dialectical philosophy (thesis, antithesis, and synthesis) on teaching methods of Christian education. These methods and philosophies are often used by Christian education students to teach their students and often create questions and discussions by their students.

The Theory of Projection

Abstract Whitehead’s process philosophy offers a wide range of speculatively generalized concepts that allow for an application in transdisciplinary research. The notion of projection is an often-overlooked detail of his philosophy that not only appears in his far-reaching theory of perception, but also constitutes an integral part of his theory of extension as the formal foundation of his metaphysical project. His perceptive theory relies on the idea of projection as the fundamental ontological relationship that lifts the past into the present. Projections of sensa describe one side of the ‘double-barreled’ theory of perception and the spatial relations of the contemporary world. The microscopic projection is just as fundamental for perception and for the integrity of a relational theory of becoming, as the perceptual projection is necessary ingredient for symbolic modes of experience. The simple projection in the mode of presentational immediacy is the basis of temporary stability of events and of any perceptual situation in the biological realm. Whitehead was aware of the possible misconceptions that this term might lead to. Discussing his remarks on the hierarchical variety of different modes of projection can resolve those misconceptions and throw a new light on the importance of projection for interdisciplinary inquiries.

The paradox of process metaphysics

This essay critically discusses the rising interest in process philosophy in recent years. I argue that the appeal of process philosophy lies in its ability to circumnavigate the binary dichotomies pervasive in European philosophy and defend an interpretation of process philosophy in terms of relationality, difference, and change. After outlining the central tenets of process philosophy, Graham Harman’s critique of a relational account of process philosophy is examined, particularly his assertion that this type of philosophy cannot fully explain genuine change. Despite the merits of Harman’s critique, I will show that his object-oriented ontology faces similar limitations. Turning to Graham Priest’s dialethism I suggest that philosophy, instead of striving for a consistent representation of fundamental metaphysics, must embrace paradox to some extent. This leads the philosophical discipline to understand itself as a transformative process.

The ontology of coevolution beyond economic systems

This paper provides an analysis of the general ontology of coevolutionary processes. I argue that to properly understand the ontological phenomenon of coevolution, we need to move away from neophobic, flat, and substance-based ontologies and adopt a pluralist and emergentist process metaphysics that takes into account both horizontal and vertical codetermination. Following this approach, I differentiate between ontological (co)evolution in a general and specific sense. General (co)evolution can be observed in physical and chemical matter. Before the emergence of living matter, the universe evolved, achieving more ontological complexity and qualitative density. Since physical and chemical matter are made up of a complex interplay of continuities and discontinuities, physical and chemical entities and processes are multiple and codetermine each other through a dynamic complex patterning, as basically described by what the Spanish philosopher Gustavo Bueno called symploké following Plato’s Sophist. Therefore, physical and chemical evolutionary processes are more accurately described as coevolutionary processes. On the other hand, specific coevolution can be observed in the biological, social, and cultural/artificial realms. Its ontological specificity lies in the dynamic interactions of novelty, replication, and selection, which are absent in physical and chemical matter. In conclusion, I argue that rather than unnecessarily complicating our view of reality, this approach is manageable epistemologically and allows for a better understanding of dynamic codetermination in the universe, from physical matter to cultural spheres.

Tradition, entrepreneurship, and innovation: The craft of Japanese fine dining

AbstractResearch SummaryThis study explores how traditional craft produces novelty, which appears to be at odds with its emphasis on continuation. While prior research has explored how tradition is rediscovered and revived from the past, traditional craft can produce intrinsic novelty potentially through its own repetitive acts. This study examines a Japanese cuisine Kaiseki, which is traditional but simultaneously innovative. The analysis of a well‐known chef's design processes reveals that the chef designs novel dishes by responding to what has been done before, making something better and differently and thereby going beyond the limit of the tradition; Kaiseki tradition is re‐enacted through such practices. A process philosophy of Gills Deleuze is engaged to explain our concept of “tradition as capacity” as well as “tradition as object.”Managerial SummaryTradition is now seen as important source of value. This study explains how craft can be both traditional and innovative. Typically, innovation has been explained by recombination with new technologies and restoration and reinterpretation to reinvigorate identity rooted in the past, this study sheds light on the intrinsic novelty within the practices of craft. This novelty is evident in traditional Japanese cuisine, called Kaiseki, which is traditional but also innovative because customers seek novel exquisite experience as they do in any Michelin Guide starred restaurants. Through the analysis of a chef's practices, we propose a new conceptualization of tradition as capacity. The creative force of this tradition as capacity is important for creating new opportunities and novel values.

PARTICIPATORY ECOLOGICAL THEOLOGY

John B. Cobb Jr., a well-known theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist in the United States, has developed his participatory ecological theology from process philosophy to process theology. Some scholars believe it belongs to a distorted form of anthropocentrism, while others suggest it belongs to biocentrism. This study seeks to explore how participatory ecological theology from the perspective of John B. Cobb, Jr. based on a participatory ecological approach to the discourse of environmental ethical methods, especially from a theological perspective. However, through Cobb’s attention to and exploration of environmental crises and interactions with other environmentalists, his ecological theology is shown to be a new form of participatory ecological theology that recognizes the intrinsic value of all existence and affirms the participatory ecological order of nature. He challenges the traditional Christian doctrine of “dominion”. He points to a more responsible concept for humanity, that is, to serve all parts of the natural world as responsible creations, just as serving God.

The Concept of Creatures’ Freedom in Process Theology: A Study on David Ray Griffin's Contributions

This document delves into the realms of Process Theology, especially emphasizing David Ray Griffin's pivotal role in reshaping our understanding of the divine. Rejecting the classical depiction of God as an omnipotent and omniscient entity, it advocates for a portrayal of God as deeply involved in the evolutionary process of the universe. This approach marks a significant shift from traditional theism, proposing instead a reciprocal relationship between God and creation, where influence is mutual rather than one-directional. Process theology is notable for its application of process philosophy, which views the universe as a series of ephemeral 'actual occasions'. These instances embody the interplay between being shaped by past events and navigating towards future self-determination. Griffin’s introduction of panexperientialism further extends this narrative, suggesting that all entities, however simple, engage in a form of experiential existence, thereby challenging the traditional binaries of consciousness and volition. The relationship between the characteristics of the divine and the freedom afforded to creatures is carefully examined. Griffin posits a God whose modus operandi is relational and evolutionary, promoting a model of divine interaction that favors persuasion over coercion. This innovative perspective sheds light on the nature of theodicy, portraying a God who empathizes with the plight of creatures, thus affirming the significance of free will and the capacity for goodness amidst challenges. Griffin's rendition of Process Theology offers a refreshing narrative that reconciles the presence of evil with a benevolent divine essence, presenting God as an integral part of creation's fabric. It paints a universe where divine love, creaturely autonomy, and the complexities of existence are closely knit, offering a hopeful and empathetic view on the divine's role in the cosmic saga.

Henri Bergson and New Materialism

Henri Bergson’s Matter and Memorypresents a panpsychist ontology. Bergson pushes the dualism of mind and matter to breaking point. Matter is reconceived as the sum of all images. Idealism and deterministic materialism are bypassed. We get an indeterministic and emancipative model of the world. The idea that matter is inherently creative and endowed with both perception and memory is highly relevant today. Materiality, far from being dead or passive, is equipped with agency. Bergson’s themes coincide with the concerns of contemporary New Materialism. Authors working in the latter school explicitly cite Bergson as a key influence. Bergson can help us understand what “newness” means in New Materialism. That being said, recent scholarship has pointed to certain unpalatable political implications of Bergson’s works, in particular the anthropological premises of Two Sources of Morality and Religion. In my article, I seek to address such critiques. In my view, by reading Bergson ontologically as a New Materialist process philosophy, some of the unfortunate cultural and ideological presuppositions Bergson did not reflect upon may be ameliorated to a great extent.

Agency, Temporalities, and the Mediation of COVID within Global Production Networks

While the global production networks (GPNs) approach produces important conceptual insights into the causal factors influencing GPNs, studies have been less concerned with the temporal intricacies of decision-making by actors. This article extends the GPN approach by examining why and how firms in the Welsh automotive sector have constructed and performed particular temporalities in response to the upheavals of COVID. A process philosophy perspective is utilized for examining how temporalities are socially constructed by human actors through actual occasions. Actors weave the past, present, and future together in socially constructed temporalities, which are imbricated with the space-times of actual occasions. The article finds that the temporalities and space-times of actions to mediate COVID have been configured around reducing and maintaining costs, and increasing risk management.

Politics as Reflective Equilibrium: On Dombrowski's Process Philosophy and Political Liberalism: Rawls, Whitehead, Hartshorne

Abstract Without question, Process Philosophy and Political Liberalism: Rawls, Whitehead, Hartshorne, is Daniel Dombrowski's most important and well-argued treatise to date within his growing, prolific literary corpus. Bringing his expertise on John Rawls's political thought to bear on the process thinking of A. N. Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne, he explores commonalities of approach and ventures the interpretive hypothesis that Rawls is, at least broadly speaking, a process philosopher. He also argues that each of these philosophers appropriately shares the appellation “political liberal” when that term is carefully defined. I find this strongly plausible.

Sand Talk: Process Philosophy and Indigenous Knowledges

Abstract Through a close study of T. Yunkaporta's 2019’s Sand Talk, this article explores fractal thinking and the pattern of creation in Indigenous cosmology; the role of custodianship in respectful interaction between living systems; alternative Indigenous understandings of nonlinearity, time, and transience; the process-panpsychism and animism present in Indigenous perceptions of cosmos as living Country, illustrated in the Dreaming and Turnaround creation event; the role of embodied cognition and haptic and situated knowledge in Indigenous science; Indigenous holistic reasoning and the mind-body connection; the process-relational metaphysic embedded in ritual and yarning practice; the knowledge encoded in place-based totemic mythology, lore, and ritual; and Indigenous understandings of complex systems as adaptive, self-organizing, and patterned. This article does not offer a process reading of Indigenous thought but rather demonstrates the significant contribution to process metaphysics that may be provided by an Aboriginal Australian perspective. Yunkaporta's text carves out a language of resistance to the McDonaldization of Indigenous research. While historic scholarly engagement with Aboriginal culture has overemphasized content, Yunkaporta demonstrates how this has occurred to the exclusion of the processes of Indigenous knowledge transmission and creation. Yet a process view requires engagement with the how, not only with the what. Such knowledge transmission is discerned in daily lived relationships among land, spirit, and people—binding epistemology to participation in a specific landscape embedded within a living culture. Place-making for Indigenous knowledges requires exploring how Indigenous ways of valuing, knowing, and being, shaped by cultural activities on Country, offer new understandings for Western metaphysics.

Schrödinger’s cat goes online: Exploring the psychopathology of digital life

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic forced therapists to embrace online sessions, creating a sudden shift in the therapeutic environment. However, the integration of technology into therapy was already underway, prompting the need to explore how the online environment impacts clients and the therapeutic process. Drawing upon Heidegger’s philosophy of technology and Whitehead’s process philosophy, this article argues that our environment and technologies shape our consciousness and subjectivity, and that both the therapist and the client are partly a product of the media ecologies of the digital age. This paper explores the concept of transitionality as proposed by Winnicott, which refers to the dynamic process through which individuals navigate between inner subjective experiences and external reality. It also examines Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of faciality and the social construction of subjectivity through the screen/face as a territorializing force. By integrating these theoretical perspectives, this study seeks to shed light on the intricate relationship between individual subjectivity and online environments in shaping our experiences and identities on the screen. Overall, the article raises some questions about the use of technology in therapy and the implications for understanding the human psyche. It highlights the need to approach online therapy with awareness of the potential limitations and disturbances that may arise.