Jay McDaniel
Science and everyday experience increasingly demonstrate that ours is a dynamic, interconnected, relational universe. It was the great insight of Alfred North Whitehead that we need a philosophy to match this understanding. That he succeeded in this is hampered by the complexity of his ideas and the words he used to describe it. In What Is Process Thought, Jay McDaniel easily overcomes this difficulty. Using metaphor, imagery, and examples from everyday life, McDaniel brings the “aha” experience of understanding to readers, whether process thought is new to them or already familiar. Old-order thinking has brought us to the precarity of geopolitical crises and climate change. If we are to survive, we must make the shift from substance-mechanistic thinking to process-relational thinking. This little book is a gateway to that great and necessary shift.
"It’s been said that no book on process thought can be sophisticated and accurate, yet clear and easy to comprehend at the same time. But Jay McDonald, one of the leading authorities on process, has just done it. In this engaging text he offers compelling answers to the deepest questions about process using metaphors, examples and wisdom from everyday life. In Jay’s hands, process becomes a tool to assist us in the art of living."~ Philip Clayton, co-author of What is Ecological Civilization?
"Jay McDaniel has written a very different introduction to process thinking, one that is badly needed. One can find in it an account of major ideas and theories and ways of thinking. But one can also learn who Whitehead was, what kinds of topics his followers write on, what they affirm and what they avoid. As more people hear of process thought and want to know what it is all about, we will now be able to point to a small book that tells them what they need to know." ~ John B. Cobb, Jr., author of Salvation.
"The shift from substance-mechanistic thinking to process-relational thinking is of vital importance for the 21st century. But most Whiteheadian process books are not easy to read, making McDaniel’s book a standout in the field. This book is approachable, easily conveying the meaning of complicated concepts. It is vivid and compelling, conversational and engaging, offering readers a process perspective on our world, our community, and ourselves. It’s a great read for anyone who wants to understand process thought." ~Meijun Fan, Ph.D, Director of China Project at the Center for Process Studies and dean of the Cobb Eco-Academy of Sunshine Valley, China.
- Series: Theological Explorations
- Paperback: 132 pages
- Price: $18.00
- ISBN-13: 978-1-940447-50-6
- E-Book forthcoming
- What is Process Thought?
- Who Is Alfred North Whitehead and Why Are People Drawn to His Ideas?
- What Kinds of Process Thought Exist Today?
- What Are Key Ideas in Process Thought?
- What Fallacies Do Process Thinkers Try to Avoid?
- Why Do Some People Speak of Process Thought as “Constructive Postmodernism”?
- How Can Process Thought Be Practiced?
Appendices
- The Rational Life in Whiteheadian Perspective
- Culture—Propositions—Education
- The Many Become One and Are Increased by One
- The Principle of Universal Relativity
- Beauty and the Beautiful
- Practical Guidelines for Decision-Making (The Earth Charter)
Epilogue: What Is Process Theology?
Ways to purchase:
