Why Study This Course?
Process philosophy offers a fascinating alternative to traditional ways of thinking about reality, knowledge and God. Rather than viewing the world as made up of fixed objects, process philosophers argue that change, relationships and becoming are the fundamental features of existence. This course introduces the thought of A.N. Whitehead, Charles Hartshorne and John B. Cobb Jr., exploring how their ideas have influenced philosophy and ethics. Through discussion learners will discover an innovative philosophical tradition that remains highly relevant to contemporary issues.
This ten-week course introduces one of the most original and influential developments in twentieth-century philosophy: process philosophy. Rather than understanding reality as static and unchanging, process philosophers argue that the universe is fundamentally dynamic, relational and continually evolving.
The course begins by examining the historical background to process philosophy, including reactions to classical metaphysics and the scientific developments that shaped modern philosophical thinking. Learners will then explore the pioneering work of Alfred North Whitehead, whose Process and Reality proposed a radically different understanding of existence based on events, relationships and creativity.
The course will then consider Charles Hartshorne's development of Whitehead's ideas, particularly his contributions to process theology and his understanding of God as dynamic, relational and affected by the world.
Attention will then turn to John B. Cobb Jr., whose work has applied process philosophy to contemporary issues including ecology, economics, education and interfaith dialogue. His ideas demonstrate how philosophical thinking can contribute to practical responses to some of today's most pressing global challenges.
Indicative weekly topics include:
Week 1: Introduction to process philosophy: why process rather than substance?
Week 2: Historical background: Heraclitus, modern science and the emergence of process thought.
Week 3: Alfred North Whitehead – life, influences and key concepts.
Week 4: Whitehead's metaphysics: actual occasions, creativity and becoming.
Week 5: Whitehead's understanding of God, nature and experience.
Week 6: Charles Hartshorne and the development of process theology.
Week 7: Hartshorne on freedom, creativity and divine persuasion.
Week 8: John B. Cobb Jr.: applying process philosophy to ethics and society.
Week 9: Process philosophy and contemporary debates, including environmental ethics, sustainability and religion.
Week 10: Review and discussion: the continuing relevance of process philosophy.
Sessions will combine tutor presentations, reading of selected extracts and whole-class discussion. Learners will be encouraged to ask questions, compare different philosophical viewpoints and develop their own informed responses through respectful discussion.
By the end of the course learners should have a clear understanding of the central ideas of Whitehead, Hartshorne and Cobb, appreciate the significance of process philosophy within modern philosophical thought, and recognise its continuing influence on debates about science, religion, ethics and the environment.
