Dennis Coffey
Hello Tony,
You have an intriguing history. A few years back, I was in a class in another program with an individual who had been a fundamentalist preacher. He walked away completely from the church. I never understood why he did, and I respected his privacy too much to find out why.
I was in a Presbyterian children’s home from about age five to about age ten. One practice we had in that home was memorizing some version of a catechism. I immediately got into trouble; I was told I was to believe everything said without any questioning. That didn’t go down well with me. I have attended Presbyterian, Baptist, and Unitarian services. Nothing has stuck with me; I don’t know why. I am still on a journey. Maybe process studies will be enlightening.
Thanks for your extensive biography.
Dennis
Hello Jeremey,
A native of NC? I am from Murphy, but we live in Boone. My wife retired from Appstate where she was a professor and department chair of management. My son-in-law is from Wilmington, NC. Hot in the summer down there in the flatlands. 🙂 If I might ask, where do you teach?
Glad you are in the class.
Dennis Coffey
Douglas,
While working on my PhD, I took courses in statistics at ORNL. I enjoyed those courses because I was away from the hub-and-bub of the big UT campus, and we had small classes.
Also, Nantahala is close to my hometown of Murphy. In fact, my mother was born in the Aquone section of Nantahala. We have a family friend whose son is full-time into kayaking. Not only is he an active kayaker, but his full-time job is working in a facility that builds them. He is based in the Nantahala section.
Hey, I never went to a college party; I guess I was boring.
Glad to meet you.
Dennis
Charlie,
I agree that contrasting features you have indicated do exist. In another life I taught environmental systems, and one of the modules that I added to that course pertained to lighting. I found that topic to be very demanding because I had little (read no) training in it. One specific topic in that module pertained to contrasts, and how they affect vision. The association of beauty to contrasts is one more factor for me to think about.
I look outside now, and I see no snow; the white stuff was in process, disappearing. 🙂
Dennis
Charlie,
The contrasting features that you captured in the posted image were incredibly rich. What caught my attention were the clouds moving rapidly overhead. I wish I could have conveyed this movement. I was overwhelmed by the everchanging images of the moving clouds, fleeting though they were. The snow melted quickly. Hey, doesn’t process philosophy indicate (at its core) that all is constantly in flux, which I think is self-evident if one pauses to think about it.
As far as beauty, I think that beauty is in the “eye of the beholder.” Another image that I took was of seemingly undifferentiated snow on the ground (see attached). Very little contrast, but its beauty impressed me.
I think I have to be careful not to make the application of process philosophy too formulaic.
Thanks for feedback, quite rich.
Dennis
Evan,
I have not seen the term, Mitakuye Oyasin, for many years. I have a book titled “Mitakuye Oyasin (“We are all related”), authored by Dr. A. C. Ross (Ehanamani). I read this book many years ago (it was copyrighted in 1989). I remember the chapter titled “Jungian Psychology and Brain Hemisphericy Compared with D/Lakota Thought.” I am a fan of Carl Jung and even more of a fan of James Hillman. I would have to re-read this book to offer much useful help. However, I think there is much in it that does not conflict with process philosophy, but I am unsure of whether it is harmonious with process theology (I look forward to taking that course.)
The book that we used in another class in another program was Vine Deloria’s “God Is Red: A Native View of Religion.” I highly recommend that book, if you have not read it. Vine Deloria was an excellent, thought-provoking writer.
I look forward to Dr. McDaniel’s response to your question.
Dennis
Kevin,
Pretty deep reasoning for sure. I cannot even begin to offer thinking on issues you raise. However, I wonder about the term, physical constituents. You do define it, “the many, many molecules which are enduring objects which are constantly being repaired or replaced,” but I continue to wonder whether anything has a physical (material) existence. I understand what we think of as physical as being in process. Can something in process have even a momentary physical existence?
I look forward to Dr. McDaniel’s response to your posting.
Thanks for your significant posting.
Dennis
Kevin and Jeremy,
I enjoyed reading your postings; they were thoughtful and stimulating. I have thought more about the necessity of contrasts to create beauty. Do you think the following may be an appropriate assertion?
While contrasts are necessary for creating beauty, they are not sufficient.
I am thinking of the obvious contrasts between the two major political parties in the US; I would not label the outcome as beautiful/harmonious except in a profoundly negative sense. One aspect that I may be neglecting in my thinking is that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” What is beautiful for one person may not be for another. I guess I am overthinking this.
Thanks for your postings.
Dennis
Kathleen,
You have given your readers much to contemplate. I don’t think I have enough of a grasp on Whiteheadian thinking for meaningful discussion. I liken trying to understand Whiteheadian concepts to trying to “drink water from a firehose.” I am especially befuddled by the Whiteheadian concept of God. The discussion in PRP on page 98, para. 2 regarding God was quite challenging for me. I will continue to read and study far beyond this course; that is all I know to do. And I will do this because I see potential rewards that may become actuals if I am diligent enough.
Dennis
Bruce,
I am thrilled that my posting meant something to you. There is a wonderful little book written by Scottish writer, Nan Shepherd, titled “The Living Mountain” that I highly recommend. Should you decide to read it, you will not be disappointed.
Dennis
Kathleen,
This was a beautiful posting. I felt myself walking among the “cradles.” Obviously, I enjoy profoundly my relationship with landscape, with being (becoming) in the natural world.
Thanks for sharing,
Dennis
Kevin,
I looked at the lesson again, and I think you have a point. So the comparison is between what was written, “this body is mine” and “this actual world is mind.” If “mind” as written in the latter phrase is correct, then the result I think would be a world of idealism. I do think Dr. McDaniel said mine when presenting. My humble observation. 🙂
Dennis
Thom,
Small world; I retired (2015) from teaching for ETSU. By the way, 4 degrees F this morning.
I love the nexus known as the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am part of the mountains and they are part of me (prehension?). When I say this to some people, they often view me as a nut job. My favorite mountain here is Grandfather Mountain–a very special place.
Stay warm,
Dennis
Thom,
I really like this find in Mesle (who I have found to be an excellent explainer/writer). Mesle has been one of my favorite authors for some time.
We here in Boone, NC have been battling extreme cold (now up to a balmy 12.4 degrees F) with snow for the past couple of days. I pass the time shoveling the white stuff by thinking about prehension and concrescence. I do enjoy the quiet that has settled upon the neighborhood.
Dennis
This discussion topic may belong in the more general discussion board, but it can fit here. Stretch your imagination like Whitehead stretched language. 🙂