Embedded in the thought of Whitehead is an extremely interesting but relatively neglected ethic which has relevance to current attempts to reflect creatively on the ethical dimension of human existence both in South Africa and the wider world. This paper notes the main features of the context in which such reflection is taking place, and then proceeds to give an account of process ethics. Thereafter it offers a critical discussion whose main conclusion is that process ethics has more to commend it than other approaches to ethics.

Ethics in process perspective

A crisis is looming for religious man as science claims sovereignty over our objective reality and threatens the stability of communities of faith. One by one, prior claims to explaining ultimate reality are systematically shown to have little correlation with scientific fact. This paper addresses the problem of meaning in Ralph Wendell Burhoe’s scientific theology. Through a detailed analysis of Burhoe’s writings and subsequent criticisms and responses, Burhoe is rescued from Ian Barbour’s claim that “[scientific theology cannot] deal adequately with the problems of human freedom, evil and conflict in nature.” Of primary importance is the demonstration that Burhoe’s Lord of History (God as natural process) is worthy of Paul Tillich’s conception of faith as ultimate concern. Further analysis reveals how one may derive meaning from a scientific theology, providing a basis for Burhoe’s world-view as the next step for homo religiosus.

Ralph Wendell Burhoe and the Natural Selection of God

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This essay sketches an interpretation of human experience utilizing the perspective of’ process philosophy. Beauty is a key notion, and emergent evolution is a central theme. The following topics are addressed: the emergence of modern evolutionary thinking and alternative responses to it; the nature of human nature in a process perspective; the place of humans in nature; the immanence of laws; emergent evolution on this planet; some implications of the hierarchy of nature for the interpretation of human life, human morality, and human values; and human religious experience.

W. Widick Schroeder

Papers

Evolution, human values and religious experience: a process perspective

“the human prospect and the ‘lord of history’”: a process critique