news: 2007...

Young Process Scholars - International Essay Contest
October 8, 2007

First call for Papers - The International Process Network (IPN), a tax-exempt, non-profit scholarly institution, among other things tries to promote philosophic, scientific, and religious studies in the spirit of Alfred North Whitehead's process metaphysics.

Awards
Two prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded for the best essays (in English) on the emergence of Process Thought in twentieth century philosophy. Young scholars in particular are encouraged to send in papers on the following topics.

Process Philosophy

Process Philosophy and its relationship to other philosophic disciplines (including Ethics)

Process Philosophy and its relationship to the Sciences (Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Psychology)

Process Philosophy and its relationship to Social Sciences (including Education, Economics, Government)

Process Philosophy and its relationship to Cultural Studies (including Religious Studies and Humanities)

Decisions will be rendered by separate panels of scholars. Funding (up to $500) will also be provided for the winners to travel to the 7th International Whitehead Conference to be held on January 5-9, 2009, in Bangalore, India. Granting of the financial awards ($1000 prize and $500 travel support) is dependent upon the contest winner's attending and presenting the winning essays at the International Whitehead Conference in Bangalore, India.
The winning paper will also be published in the online journal Concrescence - The Australasian Journal of Process Thought.

Eligibility: The contest is open to young scholars beginning their careers, such as graduate students or assistant professors, as well as independent scholars of comparable standing.

Submissions: An electronic copy of the essay, typed double-space in 12 point font (Times New Roman), in Word and pdf format should be sent as attachments by email directly to the coordinator of the essay contest committee: Franz Riffert. Please include "Whitehead Essay Contest" in the subject line of the email. Previously published papers are not accepted. Submissions should not exceed 5000 words or 20 pages (excluding notes and bibliography). Please note: The paper should not include any reference to the author (name, addresses). Do send this information, name and address, in the email only!

Judging Criteria: The purpose of the contest is to encourage young scholars who show promise of making important contributions to the field of Process Thought and its relationship to the Sciences and Cultural Studies. Submissions will be evaluated upon the following criteria:
1. Creativity: original philosophical and scientific insights
2. Coherence: a cogent, well-argued presentation
3. Scholarship: competence in dealing with philosophical and scientific texts and their interpretations

DEADLINE: May 31, 2008

For more information about the "Young Process Scholar - International Essay Contest," please visit the IPN home by clicking here or email Franz Riffert.

Alfred North Whitehead Discussion on Une vie, une oeuvre
Aug. 22, 2007

The 'Une vie, une oeuvre' radio program, in connection with France Culture and Radio France, recently dedicated a show to a discussion on the life and thought of Alfred North Whitehead. Thinkers who participated include Isabelle Stengers, Michel Weber, Didier Debaise, Marc de Lacoste Lareymondie, and Bertrand Saint-Sernin. The broadcast is entirely in French, and requires the RealPlayer in order to listen, but you can access it by clicking on the 'Ecoutez' link on this page.

"Whitehead Now"
Jun. 26, 2007

Configurations: A Journal of Literature, Science, and Technology recently dedicated an entire issue to the thought of Alfred North Whitehead. (Volume 13, Number 1, Winter 2005) The entire issue is available online at the Project Muse website, but does require a subscription.

Articles include the following:

Meyer, Steven, "Introduction"

Stengers, Isabelle. Whitehead's Account of the Sixth Day

Halewood, Michael. On Whitehead and Deleuze: The Process of Materiality

Sha, Xin Wei. Whitehead's Poetical Mathematics

Byrd, Don, 1944- The Emergence of the Cyborg and the End of the Classical Tradition: The Crisis of Alfred North Whitehead's Process and Reality

Richardson, Joan, 1946- Recombinant ANW: Appetites of Words

Bono, James J. (James Joseph) Perception, Living Matter, Cognitive Systems, Immune Networks: A Whiteheadian Future for Science Studies

Click here to view the entire issue online. [subscription required]

Whitehead Research Project Announced
Jun. 7, 2007

The Center for Process Studies has established the Whitehead Research Project (WRP), under the direction of Roland Faber, in an effort to further its commitment to the research of, and scholarship on the texts, philosophy, and life of Alfred North Whitehead. WRP explores and analyzes the relevance of Whitehead’s thought in dialogue with contemporary philosophies in order to unfold his philosophy of organism and its consequences for our time. In encouraging a fresh and bold approach towards the ever-expanding possibilities suggested by Whitehead’s written material, both published and unpublished, WRP is also committed to the continuing adventures of his ideas across disciplines, and thus encourages the integrative and syncretistic approaches that have been so characteristic of the legacy of his work.

To learn more, please visit the WRP website.

Philosophical Counseling Center Opens
Apr. 18 , 2007

Michel Weber of the Centre for Philosophical Practice has founded a new program of "Philosophical Counseling" based on Western Philosophy in general, and Whitehead's thought in particular.

From the brochure:

"The Centre welcomes individuals in their quest for meaning, be it global or local. Diagrammatically, this quest can present itself as an existential crisis or as a more limited problem—whatever its nature (depression, behavioural, mourning, ethical legitimation of a decision…)"

Informational Brochure (PDF): here
Contact: info@chromatika.org