Experience and reality : the idea of process and the case for psychical realism
Process thought offers vital developments in speculative metaphysics, yet endures unjust neglect due to the technical intricacies of Alfred North Whitehead's contribution and to the theological component of Charles Hartshorne's writings. Whitehead's keen mathematical and scientific orientations preceded his mature metaphysical outlook, and the resultant metaphysical system is burdened by overwhelming complexity. This discourages many from ever investigating his expansive speculative endeavours while encouraging exclusive discourse among the few Whiteheadian insiders. Hartshorne distinguishes process philosophy and theology from unrelated classical doctrines, yet with theism as such in the foreground of his work, many dismiss it as outmoded or irrelevant to contemporary concerns; while others, finding reformulated theistic principles untenable, reject process thinking in its entirety. The present study extends its appeal by establishing a case for psychical realism - the view that reality is made up of experiential events - and by showing that to replace Whitehead's complexity and the Hartshorne's deity with psychical realism in the foreground of process philosophy allows such events to play a crucial part
Owcarz, Gregory
Experience and reality : the idea of process and the case for psychical realism. Process thought offers vital developments in speculative metaphysics, yet endures unjust neglect due to the technical intricacies of Alfred North Whitehead's contribution and to the theological component of Charles Hartshorne's writings. Whitehead's keen mathematical and scientific orientations preceded his mature metaphysical outlook, and the resultant metaphysical system is burdened by overwhelming complexity. This discourages many from ever investigating his expansive speculative endeavours while encouraging exclusive discourse among the few Whiteheadian insiders. Hartshorne distinguishes process philosophy and theology from unrelated classical doctrines, yet with theism as such in the foreground of his work, many dismiss it as outmoded or irrelevant to contemporary concerns; while others, finding reformulated theistic principles untenable, reject process thinking in its entirety. The present study extends its appeal by establishing a case for psychical realism - the view that reality is made up of experiential events - and by showing that to replace Whitehead's complexity and the Hartshorne's deity with psychical realism in the foreground of process philosophy allows such events to play a crucial part
experience reality idea process case psychical realism process think offer vital development speculative metaphysics yet endure unjust neglect due technical intricacy north whitehead theological component charles writing whitehead keen mathematical scientific orientation precede mature metaphysical outlook resultant metaphysical_system burden overwhelming complexity many ever investigate expansive speculative endeavour encourage exclusive discourse among insider distinguishes process philosophy_theology unrelated classical doctrine yet theism foreground work many dismiss outmode irrelevant contemporary concern others find reformulate theistic principle untenable reject process think entirety present_study extend appeal establish case psychical realism view reality make experiential event show replace whitehead complexity deity psychical realism foreground process philosophy allow event play_crucial part