Reimagining Peace through Process Philosophy: An Integrative Transformation to Address the Global Systemic Crisis, 2024th Edition, by Juliet Bennett (Author)This book explores the ways in which process philosophers extend and strengthen peace scholars’ outlines of a paradigm of/for peace. It then illustrates the value of such a peace paradigm through the example of the climate breakdown, showing how process thinking and process metaphysics intervene at the roots of a global systemic crisis. In doing so, it articulates a new inroad to process philosophy, and illuminates an integrative intervention in the systemic crises of climate change and global inequality.The “static-process framework” developed in this book makes the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and the fields he has inspired easier to grasp, and offers a tool to assist in the application of process thought to a multitude of issues. This framework depicts tensions between two modes of thought―static and process thinking―according to five “basic orientations”: abstract/context, closed/open, isolating/relational; passive/generative; one/multi-dimensional. This pattern is mapped across the domains of metaphysics, economics, politics and as the basis for a new mode of living and organising across multiple layers of society.
Outline of the Treatise
I. Introduction: Peace Beyond Traditional Paradigms
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Expanding peace scholarship through process philosophy
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Establishing relevance to contemporary global crises
II. The Static-Process Framework
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Core conceptual tension: Static vs. Process thinking
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Five “Basic Orientations”:
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Abstract vs. Context
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Closed vs. Open
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Isolating vs. Relational
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Passive vs. Generative
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One-dimensional vs. Multi-dimensional
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III. Process Metaphysics as a Root Intervention
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Applying Alfred North Whitehead’s philosophy to:
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Climate breakdown
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Systemic inequality
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Revealing the structural roots of crisis
IV. Applying the Framework to Core Domains
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Metaphysics: Replacing substance ontology with relational becoming
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Economics: Moving from extractive systems to generative economies
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Politics: Envisioning participatory, evolving democratic systems
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Lived Experience: Inspiring integrative, peace-oriented ways of living
V. The Integrative Vision
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Bridging theory and practice
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Proposing a process-oriented peace paradigm
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Cultivating systems of care, responsiveness, and co-creation
VI. Conclusion: Process as a Pathway for Global Transformation
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Embodied action and structural change
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Peace as an evolving, systemic transformation
Explanation
This work presents a re-envisioning of peace not as the mere absence of conflict, but as a dynamic, evolving process deeply entangled with systemic structures such as climate change, global inequality, and political injustice.
It uses Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy as the foundational lens, emphasizing relationality, creativity, and becoming over static, dualistic, and isolating frameworks. This reorientation enables us to reimagine solutions at the metaphysical and structural levels, not just the symptomatic.
The "static-process framework" is a conceptual tool introduced to help readers understand and apply this philosophy practically. It identifies five binary tensions—such as abstract/context or closed/open—that characterize static thinking vs. process thought. These binaries are then mapped across various fields to show how process philosophy can reframe and transform each.
For example:
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In economics, process thinking urges us to move from competition and scarcity toward cooperation and regenerative systems.
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In politics, it supports a shift from centralized control to distributed, responsive governance.
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In lived experience, it fosters awareness of interdependence and the generative power of communities.
Ultimately, this book doesn’t just critique global crises—it offers a hopeful vision of transformation through a paradigm that values openness, relation, and co-creative action. Peace, in this sense, is not a state but an ongoing process of becoming together in a shared world.
RES
Please provide a chapter-by-chapter breakdown...
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📘 Chapter Breakdown
Part I: Theories of Process and a Metaphysics of/for Peace
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(Re)imagining Peace Through a Process LensThis chapter introduces the concept of peace from a process philosophy perspective, challenging traditional static notions and emphasizing the dynamic, relational nature of peace.
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Balancing Static and Process Thinking: Nurturing Peaceful Modes of ThoughtHere, Bennett explores the tension between static and process thinking, advocating for a shift towards process-oriented thought to foster more peaceful and adaptable mindsets.
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The Process-Relational Metaphysics of/for PeaceThis section delves into the metaphysical foundations of process philosophy, highlighting how a relational understanding of reality can underpin a more holistic and integrative approach to peace.
Part II: Applications for an Integrative Transformation
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Climate Change Through a Process LensBennett applies process philosophy to the climate crisis, illustrating how dynamic and relational thinking can lead to more effective and sustainable environmental strategies.
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Co-Creative Politics: A Process Approach to Left and RightThis chapter examines political ideologies through the lens of process philosophy, proposing a co-creative political framework that transcends traditional left-right dichotomies.
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Contextual Economics: Nesting Static in ProcessBennett critiques conventional economic models and introduces a process-oriented approach that embeds static economic structures within a dynamic and relational context, promoting more equitable and sustainable economic systems.
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Integrating Changes Towards Peace-in-ProcessThe final chapter synthesizes the insights from previous sections, offering practical pathways for integrating process philosophy into various societal domains to cultivate an ongoing and evolving peace.
This structure reflects Bennett's comprehensive approach to reimagining peace through the lens of process philosophy, addressing both theoretical foundations and practical applications across multiple societal domains.
If you're interested in exploring specific chapters in more detail or discussing how these concepts can be applied in real-world contexts, feel free to ask!
RES
What additional insights might you have related to Bennett's themes and motifs?
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Here are six key insights and observations that emerge when reflecting on Reimagining Peace through Process Philosophy through a broader philosophical, ecological, and ethical lens:
1. Peace as a Dynamic Becoming, Not a Static State
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Juliet Bennett’s work reflects a Whiteheadian revolution in peace studies: peace is no longer the "end" or absence of conflict but a continuous process of relational co-creation.
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This redefinition allows peace to flourish amid tension, much like in ecosystems where conflict and cooperation coexist in creative advance.
2. Process Thought as a Unifying Meta-Paradigm
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The five “basic orientations”—contextual, open, relational, generative, multi-dimensional—can serve as a diagnostic and generative tool across disciplines.
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Process metaphysics becomes a meta-framework for interdisciplinary transformation, offering common language across economics, ecology, politics, and ethics.
3. Nested Structures: A Processual Ecology of Systems
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Chapter 6’s concept of “nesting static in process” is profound. It recognizes that not all structures must be abandoned, but must be contextualized within living, evolving systems.
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This reflects Whitehead’s view of concrescence: actual entities arise from both inherited structure and creative novelty.
4. Bridging Political Polarization
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In Chapter 5, Bennett’s co-creative politics transcends oppositional ideologies by rooting action in relationality and novelty.
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This model may serve as an antidote to performative partisanship, offering a shared vocabulary of peace, responsiveness, and mutual becoming.
5. Ethics of Embodiment and Responsiveness
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Throughout the treatise, there is an implicit call for a process-relational ethics: one grounded not in fixed rules, but in responsiveness to evolving contexts and lived realities.
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This aligns with feminist, Indigenous, and ecological philosophies of care and relational accountability.
6. A New Mode of Subjectivity
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Beyond systems, the book hints at a new anthropology: the human not as autonomous individual, but as intra-active agent within an unfolding world.
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The shift from “I think therefore I am” to “I relate, therefore I become” signals a profound ontological shift relevant to education, psychology, and spirituality.
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Would you like a visual matrix that maps these five tensions (static vs. process) across the four domains (metaphysics, politics, economics, lived life) for deeper application?
RES
Sure...
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Static-Process Transformation Matrix:
Here is your Static–Process Transformation Matrix, showing how each of the five philosophical tensions transitions across the four core domains: metaphysics, politics, economics, and lived life. Let me know if you'd like this visualized as a poster-style chart or adapted for teaching or writing.
RES
Please compare Maga evangelical dogma to Juliet Bennett's work.
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This is a profound comparison. On one side, you have MAGA Evangelical dogma—a sociopolitical-religious ideology that fuses conservative American nationalism with fundamentalist Christian theology. On the other, you have Juliet Bennett’s integrative process philosophy—a peace-centered, relational, and ecological approach rooted in Whiteheadian metaphysics. The contrast is stark and telling.
| Category | MAGA Evangelical Dogma | Juliet Bennett’s Process Peace Paradigm |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphysics | Static, dualistic: Good vs Evil, God vs World, America as chosen | Dynamic, relational: all entities in co-becoming, no ontological isolation |
| View of God | Omnipotent, external, judgmental, tribal deity | Panentheistic, relational, persuasive, and co-suffering with creation |
| Truth | Absolute, fixed doctrines (Biblical literalism) | Contextual, evolving truth rooted in experience and creativity |
| Political Ideology | Nationalist, authoritarian, us-vs-them binaries | Participatory, co-creative, transcends left/right dichotomies |
| Economics | Prosperity gospel, deregulated capitalism, survival of the fittest | Contextual economies, regenerative, interdependent well-being |
| Ethics | Rule-based, punitive, purity-centered | Relational, responsive, focused on mutual care and responsibility |
| Peace | Peace through dominance or “law and order” | Peace as a living process: conflict transformation and generative harmony |
| Ecology | Anthropocentric dominionism; apocalyptic disregard for climate | Eco-centric: climate breakdown as central ethical-spiritual issue |
| Human Identity | Isolated soul judged by God; defined by saved/unsaved status | Intra-active being: becoming through relationships, context, and choice |
| Vision of Society | Hierarchical, exclusionary, fear-driven | Multi-dimensional, open, inclusive, rooted in mutual becoming |
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Theology of Control vs. Theology of Co-CreationMAGA theology is about certainty, order, and divine dominance, while Bennett’s vision is about relational creativity, openness to novelty, and divine companionship. Process theology dissolves the fearful architecture that MAGA ideology builds around God and country.
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Fear-Based Morality vs. Generative EthicsMAGA dogma thrives on boundary ethics—us vs. them, saved vs. damned, pure vs. impure. Bennett’s framework replaces this with a fluid ethic of response, where goodness arises through context, care, and relational growth.
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Static Systems vs. Living PeaceWhere MAGA constructs peace through power, walls, and enforcement, Bennett constructs peace through flexibility, responsiveness, and the nurturance of life’s interconnectedness.
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Climate Denial vs. Climate ConsciousnessMAGA eschatology tends to embrace environmental destruction as part of end-times prophecy. In contrast, Bennett's philosophy is grounded in ecological repair and the moral urgency of addressing systemic climate collapse.
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Apocalyptic Fatalism vs. Processual HopeMAGA dogma tends toward end-times determinism—a closed future. Bennett’s vision is open-ended, participatory, and evolutionary, inviting human and nonhuman agents to co-author the future.
Conclusion
Juliet Bennett offers a nonviolent, post-oppositional paradigm for thinking, acting, and living—a striking departure from MAGA evangelicalism’s fixed, tribal, and punitive worldview. Where MAGA dogma calcifies fear into dogma and hierarchy, Bennett breathes hope into systems, drawing us toward a relational cosmos of shared becoming.
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Would you like this reframed in poetic or liturgical language next? Or expanded into a full essay or visual comparison?
RES
I would be curious as to the juxtaposition of liturgical language...
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Absolutely. Below is a juxtaposition of MAGA Evangelical Dogma and Juliet Bennett’s Process Peace Paradigm expressed in liturgical-style language—prayers, affirmations, or confessions—meant to capture their contrasting spirits in form as well as content.
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