Process Philosophy's Antecedents: A Family Tree of Dynamic Process Ontologies, Part 2

Process Philosophy's Antecedents

A Family Tree of Dynamic Process Ontologies

Part 2

by R.E. Slater & ChatGPT

Philosophical ontologies study the nature of being and existence and is a subdiscipline of metaphysics. Broadly, formal ontologies investigate abstract features while applied ontologies utilize ontological theories and principles to study entities within specific domains.

INTRODUCTION

Building upon yesterday’s foundational overview of dynamic process ontologies, this second part traces the historical unfolding of processual thought within both religious and philosophical traditions. By mapping these antecedents, we see a continuous thread of dynamic, relational, and becoming-centered ontologies weaving through ancient cosmologies, classical philosophies, medieval theologies, and modern scientific insights.

This family tree highlights the converging streams that have shaped contemporary process thought — an evolving tapestry of ideas that resists static categories and instead affirms movement, change, and interconnectedness at the heart of reality.

I.

MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS ONTOLOGIES

• Includes both process and non-process traditions
• Grouped by era and tradition

I. Ancient Ontologies (Pre-Axial Age to Early Axial)

• Animism & Totemism – World as alive, all beings with spirit (prehistoric–indigenous)
• Polytheism – Many gods with various domains (Egyptian, Greek, Norse, Canaanite, Hindu)
• Henotheism – One supreme god among others (early Israelite, some Vedic thought)
• Pantheism – God and world are identical (early Upanishads, Stoicism)
• Panentheism – God in the world, world in God, but God transcends (Upanishadic Hinduism, some early Christian mysticism)

II. Classical Philosophical Ontologies (Axial Age)

• Platonic Idealism – Eternal Forms/Ideas as true reality
• Aristotelian Substance Ontology – Reality composed of substances with essential forms
• Atomism – Reality built from indivisible units (Democritus, Epicurus)
• Stoicism – Rational Logos as immanent in all things
• Buddhist Ontology (Śūnyatā) – Emptiness of inherent existence; interdependence
• Hindu Advaita Vedanta – Non-dual Brahman as ultimate reality
• Confucian Relational Ontology – Being defined by relationships within a moral cosmos

III. Medieval Ontologies

• Neoplatonism – Emanation of reality from the One (Plotinus, Augustine)
• Scholastic Theistic Realism – Being grounded in God’s essence (Aquinas)
• Islamic Kalam Ontology – God's will as ontologically fundamental (Ash'arite occasionalism)
• Jewish Kabbalistic Ontology – Emanations (Sefirot) from Ein Sof (Infinite)
• Nominalism (Ockham) – Denial of universals as real; reality as particulars

IV. Modern Philosophical Ontologies (Post-Renaissance)

• Cartesian Dualism – Mind (res cogitans) and Matter (res extensa)
• Monism (Spinoza) – Single substance = God or Nature
• Empiricist Ontology (Locke, Hume) – Reality apprehended through sense perception
• Idealism (Kant, Hegel) – Reality shaped or constituted by mind/spirit
• Materialism / Physicalism – Only matter (or energy) is real
• Process Ontology (Whitehead) – Reality is becoming, not static being
• Phenomenology (Husserl, Heidegger) – Reality as experienced; being-in-the-world
• Existentialist Ontology (Sartre) – Existence precedes essence; freedom as ontological core

V. Contemporary / Postmodern Ontologies

• Post-Structuralist Ontologies – Reality constructed via language, power, and difference
• Relational Ontology (Process, Feminist, Ecological) – Being is constituted by relations
• Object-Oriented Ontology – Objects exist independently of relations or perception
• Quantum Ontologies (Field, Information) – Reality as fields, energy, information (modern physics)
• Panpsychism – Mind or experience as fundamental aspect of all reality
• Integral / Metamodern Ontologies – Integrative approaches blending multiplicity (Wilber, metamodern thinkers)

VI. Comparative Family Tree Overview

a diagrammatic family tree of ontologies reflecting both chronology and influence patterns.

A family tree of Ontologies
by R.E. Slater & ChatGPT

A family tree of Ontologies showing Processual Elements
by R.E. Slater & ChatGPT

II.

MAJOR PROCESS-BASED PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS ONTOLOGIES

• Includes PROCESS traditions only
• Grouped by era and tradition

I. Proto-Process Ontologies (Pre-Axial)

• Animism & Totemism – All things in flux, spirited; relational cosmos
• Indigenous Cosmologies – Cycles of nature as ongoing becoming

II. Emerging Philosophical Processes (Axial)

• Heraclitus (Greek) – "All is flux," the Logos as ordering flow
• Buddhism (India) – Śūnyatā (emptiness), interdependent arising (pratītyasamutpāda)
• Upanishadic Hinduism (India) – Brahman as evolving cosmic reality
• Daoism (China) – Dao as the ever-flowing way of nature

III. Process Threads in Classical Philosophy

• Stoicism – Logos as living reason, immanent in nature
• Neoplatonism (Plotinus) – Emanation as a dynamic outflow from the One
• Early Christian Mystics – God as flowing presence (Gregory of Nyssa, Dionysius)

IV. Medieval and Islamic Contributions

• Kabbalah – Emanations (Sefirot), divine dynamism in Jewish mysticism
• Islamic Philosophical Theology (Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Mulla Sadra) – Substantial motion (harakat jawhariyya), all beings in motion
• Christian Processions (East & West) – Theological language of Trinity as dynamic relations (though often staticized)

V. Early Modern Dynamics

• Nicholas of Cusa – Coincidence of opposites, unfolding creation
• Giordano Bruno – Infinite worlds, ever-unfolding universe
• Spinoza – God or Nature as single substance with infinite modes (proto-processual)

VI. Modern Precursors and Theorists

• Hegel – Dialectic as unfolding Geist (Spirit)
• Bergson – Creative evolution, élan vital
• Whitehead (Process Philosophy) – Becoming as metaphysical core; God as primordial, consequent, and superjective nature
• Teilhard de Chardin – Omega Point, evolutionary theology

VII. Contemporary Developments

• Process Theology (Cobb, Suchocki, Hartshorne) – Divine relationality and ongoing creation
• Ecological and Relational Ontologies – Panpsychism, Deep Ecology
• Quantum Ontologies – Dynamic fields, relational entanglement
• Metamodern Ontology – Integrative, open-ended becoming (e.g., Hanzi Freinacht)

by R.E. Slater & ChatGPT

CONCLUDING REFLECTION

In retracing the roots of process-oriented philosophies and theologies, we discover that what many modern thinkers articulate as “process” is neither a novel invention nor a narrow metaphysical project. Rather, it is a recurring intuition — surfacing in every age — that reality itself is relational, emergent, and perpetually in becoming.

By recognizing these antecedents, we anchor today’s processual frameworks within a broader historical dialogue, affirming both their ancient resonance and their contemporary relevance for philosophy, science, and faith alike.

Process Philosophy's Antecedents: A Family Tree of Dynamic Process Ontologies, Part 1

Process Philosophy's Antecedents

A Family Tree of Dynamic Process Ontologies

Part 1

by R.E. Slater & ChatGPT

Philosophical ontologies study the nature of being and existence and is a subdiscipline of metaphysics. Broadly, formal ontologies investigate abstract features while applied ontologies utilize ontological theories and principles to study entities within specific domains.

To begin, a process ontology is a way of modeling and representing knowledge about processes, focusing on their dynamic nature and relationships rather than as static entities. It's used in religion, philosophy and computer science, with applications ranging from understanding fundamental reality to describing complex business operations.

In religion, process ontology emphasizes that God is not a static, unchanging entity but is intimately involved in the dynamic and ever-changing processes of the universe.

In philosophy, process ontology challenges traditional views that emphasize enduring substances, arguing instead that reality is fundamentally composed of processes, events, and relationships. This perspective, also known as process philosophy or process metaphysics, is associated with thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead. Some philosophers argue that process ontology offers a more accurate representation of the world's flux and becoming.

In computer science and knowledge representation, a process ontology provides a structured way to model-and-reason-about the components and relationships within an observed process. This is useful for tasks like (i) Modeling workflows: Describing the steps, inputs, outputs, and dependencies of a process. (ii) Developing knowledge-based systems: Creating systems that can understand and reason about processes. (iii) Enabling process analysis and optimization: Identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement in a process.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the history of thought, certain currents have continually resurfaced — currents that reject static conceptions of reality in favor of dynamic, relational, and evolving understandings of existence. Process Philosophy, particularly as formalized by Alfred North Whitehead, is often perceived as a modern or even postmodern development. Yet, when viewed through a broader historical and cross-cultural lens, it becomes evident that processual insights have long been seeded in the philosophical and theological traditions of East and West alike.

This survey traces a family tree of dynamic ontologies — spanning ancient Greek thought, Buddhist impermanence, Islamic metaphysical insights, dialectical European philosophy, and the revelations of modern quantum science. Each thread contributes a distinctive voice to the chorus affirming that reality is a living, unfolding process.

In this spirit, Metamodern Process Philosophy emerges not as a break with tradition but as a converging stream of ancient wisdom, critical modernity, and contemporary scientific discovery. This synthesis offers a fertile ground for reimagining metaphysics, ethics, and the nature of existence in an interconnected and ever-becoming world.

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1. Heraclitus (c. 500 BCE) — “All is Flux”

• The Greek philosopher Heraclitus declared that change is the fundamental nature of reality. His famous aphorism, “You cannot step into the same river twice,” highlighted a worldview where all things are in perpetual motion.

• Process Resonance: Heraclitus affirmed becoming over static being, introducing an early Western articulation of dynamic ontology.

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2. Buddhist Doctrine of Impermanence (Anicca) (c. 300 BCE)

• Buddhism, originating in India, teaches that all phenomena are impermanent (Anicca), subject to arising and passing away, emphasizing the interdependent nature of all existence.

• Process Resonance: Reality is transient, interdependent, and relational — a natural alignment with process metaphysics’ rejection of fixed essences.

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3. Islamic Philosophy — Al-Farabi, Avicenna (c. 1000 CE)

• Islamic philosophers synthesized Aristotelian and Neoplatonic philosophy, emphasizing dynamic creation, contingency, and continual existential dependence on the Divine.

• Process Resonance: Though not overtly processual, Islamic philosophy nurtured metaphysical frameworks that valued dynamic creation and relational existence.

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4. Mulla Sadra (c. 1600 CE) — Substantial Motion (al-ḥaraka al-jawhariyya)

• Mulla Sadra’s revolutionary doctrine argued that substance itself is in constant ontological motion, not merely its accidents or qualities. This notion placed change and becoming at the heart of existence.

• Process Resonance: A striking philosophical precursor to process thought — proposing a world of ontological flux upheld by God’s ongoing creative act.

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5. G.W.F. Hegel (c. 1800 CE) — Dialectical Becoming

• Hegel’s dialectics proposed that reality unfolds through the triadic process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, embedding development and transformation into the core of history and metaphysics.

• Process Resonance: Reality as a self-developing, dynamic process — an essential prelude to relational and evolutionary metaphysical systems.

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6. Alfred North Whitehead (c. 1920 CE) — Process Philosophy

• Whitehead constructed a systematic metaphysics where reality consists of “actual occasions” — discrete events of becoming interconnected in webs of relation.

• Process Resonance: Whitehead’s philosophy integrated ontology, cosmology, and ethics under the principle of creativity and relational becoming, offering a comprehensive processual worldview.

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7. Quantum Ontology — Field Theory & Emergence (21st Century)

• Quantum physics reveals a universe of fields, probabilities, and emergent properties rather than static substances. Concepts like wavefunction collapse and quantum entanglement reflect a world defined by dynamic interrelations.

• Process Resonance: Scientific models affirm a reality in constant flux, resonating deeply with philosophical visions of process and emergence.

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CONCLUSION

A Converging Stream of Becoming

Process Philosophy emerges not from a vacuum but from a global and historical tapestry of insights — where ancient wisdom traditions, classical metaphysical systems, and contemporary scientific understandings coalesce. Each tradition contributes a vital thread:

• Heraclitus — Change is the only constant.

• Buddhism — All is impermanent and interconnected.

• Islamic Philosophy — Dynamic creation and contingent existence.

• Mulla Sadra — Substance itself is a motion of becoming.

• Hegel — History and reality unfold through dialectical processes.

• Whitehead — Reality is constituted by creative relational events.

• Quantum Ontology — The universe dances in fields of dynamic potential.

Together, each aspect of process thought affirm a deep, metamodern truth: "The universe is not a static structure but a living, unfolding, evolving process.

Metamodern Process Philosophy stands at the crossroads of ancient metaphysics, postmodern critique, and scientific discovery — offering a dynamic, integrated vision of reality. It invites us to see existence as a vibrant, relational tapestry, forever in the act of becoming.

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Final Reflection

In recognizing the diverse roots of process philosophy, we are reminded that the human quest to understand reality has always been marked by a reverence for movement, change, and connection. Far from being an isolated philosophical curiosity, process thought represents a universal intuition echoed across cultures, religions, and sciences. Its metamodern expression today serves as both a bridge and a horizon — bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary inquiry, and opening a horizon of hope for a world in search of deeper relational meaning. 

Process philosophy, in this light, is less an endpoint and more a continual invitation: to embrace the flux of life with creativity, courage, and a profound sense of belonging to the unfolding cosmos.

Commonalities between Islam, Process, and Quantum Science

Commonalities between Islam,

Process, and Quantum Science

An Integration of Islamic Substantial Motion,

Process Philosophy, and Quantum Field Theory

by R.E. Slater and ChatGPT

INTRODUCTION

In the evolving dialogue between metaphysics, philosophy, and modern science, certain convergences stand out as particularly illuminating. One such convergence is the shared resonance between Mulla Sadra’s theosophic concept of Substantial Motion, Alfred North Whitehead’s Process Philosophy, and the scientific insights of contemporary Quantum Field Theory. Though these systems arise from distinct cultural, intellectual, and disciplinary contexts, they each articulate a vision of reality grounded in dynamism, relationality, and ceaseless becoming.

• Mulla Sadra’s theosophic doctrine of Substantial Motion asserts that not only cosmic coincidence, but the very substance of all things, is in perpetual flux—a groundbreaking metaphysical stance within Islamic thought.

• Whitehead’s Process Philosophy, formulated within the early 20th-century Western tradition, describes reality not as a collection of static substances but as a web of interconnected events or “actual occasions.”

• Meanwhile, Quantum Field Theory, the bedrock of modern physics, reveals a universe woven from dynamic fields, probabilistic events, and continuous processes of interaction.

Reference
Rereading Mulla Sadra’s Substantial Motion: Bridging Whiteheadian Process Philosophy and Quantum Ontology by Abolfazl Minaee

Abstract

This study undertakes a profound exploration of the conceptual convergences among Mulla Sadra’s doctrine of al-ḥarakat al-jawhariyya (substantial motion), Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy, and contemporary quantum ontology, aiming to forge a novel metaphysical synthesis that bridges Islamic philosophy with modern philosophy of science.

Through an intricate comparative and conceptual analysis, it argues that Sadra’s dynamic ontology of becoming offers a robust framework for interpreting Whiteheaud’s processual metaphysics while simultaneously providing a unique lens to address interpretive challenges in quantum mechanics, such as wave function collapse, quantum entanglement, and superposition.

By meticulously identifying shared ontological commitments to flux, relationality, and emergence, this paper proposes substantial motion as a unifying metaphysical paradigm that transcends cultural and disciplinary boundaries.

This interdisciplinary endeavor not only fosters a cross-cultural dialogue but also contributes to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the nature of being in a quantum world, inviting philosophers to reconsider the foundations of reality through a processual lens.

REVIEW OF SADRA'S PROCESSUAL ONTOLOGY

1. Islamic Metaphysical Origin (Mulla Sadra, 17th c.)

• Philosopher: Mulla Sadra (Islamic Iran, Transcendent Theosophy)
• Core Idea: Not only accidents (qualities, quantities) but substance itself is in constant motion.
• Classical Aristotelian thought saw substances as fixed while qualities (color, place, size) change.
• Mulla Sadra flipped this: "Substance is in continuous ontological flow—changing, becoming, never fixed."

Result:

• The universe is a ceaselessly renewing tide of being.
• God is the ultimate cause of this ongoing creative flow.
• Existence itself is dynamic, becoming is reality.

2. Comparison to Islamic Theology:

• Though built within Shi'a Islamic metaphysics, Sadra's idea was philosophical, bridging theology, cosmology, and ontology.

• It aligns with Islamic concepts of God as ever-creating (al-Khaliq) but isn't core to Qur'anic doctrine.

3. Comparison to Physical Science

Is Sadra's theosophy a physical science? No—but...

• It’s a metaphysical doctrine, not derived from physics experiments.

• It philosophically anticipates later ideas like process ontology and dynamic fields in physics.

• Contemporary physics (e.g., field theory, quantum fluctuations) finds resonance, but substantial motion remains a philosophical stance, not a scientific theory.

4. Comparison to Process Philosophy

• Whitehead’s Process Philosophy similarly holds:

• > “Actuality is a process of becoming, not a substance persisting through change.”

• Both reject static substance metaphysics.

• Both suggest reality is constituted by dynamic, interrelated processes.

5. Summary

• Aspect - Substantial Motion
• Origin - Islamic Philosophy (Mulla Sadra)
• Domain - Metaphysics, not physics
• Core Concept - Substance itself is in continuous change
• Relation to Islam - A philosophical reading within Shi'a tradition
• Modern Resonance - Similar to Process Philosophy & Quantum Process
• Science? - No, but overlaps conceptually with dynamic field theories

6. Diagram

Here is a visual alignment of Mulla Sadra’s Substantial Motion, Whitehead’s Process Philosophy, and Quantum Field Theory:

• Mulla Sadra (Islamic Metaphysics) — Theosophical, substance in motion

• Whitehead (Process Philosophy) — Ontological, becoming and relationality

• Quantum Field Theory (Modern Physics) — Empirical, fluctuating quantum fields

• They converge on dynamic ontology, relational being, and processual becoming, though each arises from distinct traditions: metaphysical, philosophical, or scientific.

CONCLUSION

The alignment of Substantial Motion, Process Philosophy, and Quantum Field Theory reveals a fascinating cross-cultural and interdisciplinary convergence: reality, at its deepest levels, is dynamic, interrelated, and perpetually in motion. Whether articulated through the theological metaphysics of Mulla Sadra, the philosophical constructs of Whitehead, or the empirical models of quantum physics, this shared vision suggests a profound metaphysical intuition running beneath the surface of human thought across centuries and civilizations.

Rather than isolated insights, these traditions together underscore a metamodern realization: existence is a flowing, unfolding tapestry of becoming. This synthesis offers not just a conceptual framework but also a powerful invitation—to embrace a worldview that honors process, fosters relational understanding, and recognizes the deep, dynamic interconnectedness of all things

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A Poem
A Dance of Becoming
by R.E. Slateŕ and ChatGPT

From ancient scrolls and scholar’s pen,
To quantum fields beyond our ken,
A single thread through time does weave —
All things in motion, all things perceive.

Sadra saw the world in flow,
A ceaseless pulse in all we know.
Whitehead drew the cosmic chart,
Of fleeting moments, and worlds that start.

The physicist in labs confined,
Found dancing fields that seeming fate designed.
Across vast spaces and through the small,
Cosmic processes bind, enfolding all.

Then let us learn this subtle art —
To see the whole within each part.
The world as song, as shifting stream,
As living, breathing, woven dream.