Louisville Process Theology Network

Whitehead and Hartshorne

See the Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

for a thorough explanation of the "Process Theism" conceptual framework developed by Whitehead and elaborated by Hartshorne.

Very briefly, Whitehead and Hartshorne both conceive of a "dual transendence" in our our relationship with God. Sometimes the nature of God is absolute; other times it is relative. This contrasts sharply with the traditonal view which holds that God is absolute in all respects.

The following passage from the last few pages of Whitehead's "Process and Reality" is thought to be the most elegant statement of dual transendence.

It is as true to say that God is permanent and the world fluent,

as that the world is permanent and God fluent.

It is as true to say that God is one and the world many, that that the world is one and God many.

It is as true to say that, in comparison with the world, God is actual eminently, as that, in comparison with God, the world is actual eminently.

It is a true to say that the world is immanent in God, as that God is immanent in the world.

It is as true to say that God transends the world, as that the world transends God.

It is a true to say that God creates the world, as that the world creates God.

Whitehead speaks of living entities as dipolar beings,

possessing both physical and mental poles. These two natures are distinguishable but inseparable in Whitehead's concept. He sees these poles in God, as well; naming them the consequent nature and the primordial nature.

Hartshorne extends the concept of dual transcendence by distinquishing between our individual existence and our enduring characteristics. We are concrete in the present and also eternal by means of the the experiences we contribute to the consciousness of all existence.

In Hartshorne's words, "Unlike Whitehead, I ...define God as an enduring society of actualities, not a single actuality. Here I think, Whitehead was just mistaken."