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Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion

Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe

Edited by Andrew M. Davis and Roland Faber - Contributions by Constance (Connie) M. Bertka; Bruce Damer; Ilia Delio; Lewis S. Ford; Steven J. Dick; Brianne Donaldson; Timothy E. Eastman; Chelsea Haramia; Noreen Herzfeld; Wahida Khandker; Jeffery D. Long; Mark Lupisella; Derek Malone-France; Ted Peters; Matthew David Segall and Theodore Walker Jr.

Astrophilosopy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe applies Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy and the associated process philosophies of Henri Bergson, Teilhard de Chardin, and others to the interdisciplinary layers of astrobiology, extraterrestrial life, and the impact of discovery. This collection, edited by Andrew M. Davis and Roland Faber, asks questions such as “How have process thinkers imagined universal creative evolution and its implications for philosophies, theologies, and religions beyond earth?” and “How might their claims as to the primacy of organism, temporality, novelty, value, and mind enrich current discussions and debates across disciplines?”

As experts in their fields, the contributors are informed by, but not limited to, process conceptualities. The chapters not only advance recent discussions in astrobiology, cosmology, and evolution but also consider a constellation of philosophical topics, from shared extraterrestrial knowledge and values to the possibilities or limitations afforded by A.I. technology, the Fermi Paradox, the Drake Equation, and the increasing need to nurture the cosmic dimensions of theological and religious traditions.

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  • Author
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Lexington Books
Pages: 574 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-66694-436-5 • Hardback • February 2024 • $155.00 • (£119.00)
978-1-66694-437-2 • eBook • January 2024 • $60.00 • (£46.00)
Series: Contemporary Whitehead Studies
Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Religion / Theology

Andrew M. Davis is program director for the Center for Process Studies at the Claremont School of Theology.

Roland Faber is Kilsby Family/John B. Cobb Jr. Professor of process studies at the Claremont School of Theology.

List of Figures

Foreword by Timothy E. Eastman

Acknowledgments by Roland Faber

Introduction: Process Philosophy and Extraterrestrial Life: Past, Present, and Future by Andrew M. Davis

Part I: Astrophilosophy

1. Prospects for a Universal Philosophy of Organism: Some Initial Reflections by Derek Malone-France

2. The Cosmological Context of the Origin of Life: Process Philosophy and the Hot Spring Hypothesis by Matthew David Segall and Bruce Damer

3. The Organic Universe and Otherworldly Lives: Bergson and Sagan by Wahida Khandker

4. The Connection-Action Principle: A Basis for Process Philosophy, Cosmic Creativity, and Value? by Mark Lupisella

5. Astrobiological Searches for Life and Shared Knowledge by Chelsea Haramia

Part II: Exotheology

6. Evolution Connected to Theory of Value by Process-Relational Astrotheology and Cosmotheology by Theodore Walker Jr.

7. Astrobiology, Astrotheology, and Cosmic Consciousness by Ted Peters

8. Astrobiology, Cosmotheology, and the Biological Universe: Implications for Religion and Theology by Steven J. Dick

9. From Negation to Exemplification: A Deeper Whiteheadian Cosmotheology by Andrew M. Davis

Part III: Cosmic Religion

10. Religious Belief and the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life: What’s Worldview Got to Do with It? by Constance M. Bertka

11. “Worlds as Numerous as the Grains of Sand of the Ganges”: Cosmic Pluralism and Swami Vivekananda’s Religion of the Future by Jeffery D. Long

12. Multiplicity without Tyranny: The Nonviolent Aim in Jainism and Whitehead’s Process Metaphysics by Brianne Donaldson

13. Extending the Noosphere into Intergalactic Life: Teilhard de Chardin and the Third Axial Age by Ilia Delio

14. Astrobiology without Biology: Will AI be Our Emissary or Our Bottleneck? by Noreen Herzfeld

15. A Darker Forest? The Fermi Paradox and Extraterrestrial Spiritual Life by Roland Faber

Epilogue: Theological Reflections on Extraterrestrial Life (1968) by Lewis S. Ford

This is a unique, fascinating, and unprecedented collection of cross-disciplinary essays on extraterrestrial life and intelligence. It is also an unusually coherent anthology. Its editors have asked the contributors to say whether and how A. N. Whitehead's "process thought," known for its adventurous and hopeful integration of science, cosmology, philosophy, and religious thought, might illuminate the possible discovery of living and thinking beings elsewhere in our universe—and even in a possibly larger plurality of worlds. In these diverse and well-crafted chapters, readers will discover scientifically informed, philosophically sophisticated, and theologically interesting explorations of a topic that will become increasingly important for years to come.


— John F. Haught, Georgetown University


Astrobiologists have long realized the value of philosophy and theology for anticipating the impact of discovering life beyond Earth. But these fields can do so much more. With sophistication and masterful nuance, Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe enchantingly demonstrates the true importance of these disciplines: by contemplating what it means to exist as living beings in the universe, process philosophers and theologians give us provocative insights into advancing the scientific search for alien Others.


— Douglas A. Vakoch, President of METI International and editor of Xenolinguistics: Towards a Science of Extraterrestrial Language


Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion

Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Astrophilosopy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe applies Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy and the associated process philosophies of Henri Bergson, Teilhard de Chardin, and others to the interdisciplinary layers of astrobiology, extraterrestrial life, and the impact of discovery. This collection, edited by Andrew M. Davis and Roland Faber, asks questions such as “How have process thinkers imagined universal creative evolution and its implications for philosophies, theologies, and religions beyond earth?” and “How might their claims as to the primacy of organism, temporality, novelty, value, and mind enrich current discussions and debates across disciplines?”

    As experts in their fields, the contributors are informed by, but not limited to, process conceptualities. The chapters not only advance recent discussions in astrobiology, cosmology, and evolution but also consider a constellation of philosophical topics, from shared extraterrestrial knowledge and values to the possibilities or limitations afforded by A.I. technology, the Fermi Paradox, the Drake Equation, and the increasing need to nurture the cosmic dimensions of theological and religious traditions.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 574 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-66694-436-5 • Hardback • February 2024 • $155.00 • (£119.00)
    978-1-66694-437-2 • eBook • January 2024 • $60.00 • (£46.00)
    Series: Contemporary Whitehead Studies
    Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Religion / Theology
Author
Author
  • Andrew M. Davis is program director for the Center for Process Studies at the Claremont School of Theology.

    Roland Faber is Kilsby Family/John B. Cobb Jr. Professor of process studies at the Claremont School of Theology.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • List of Figures

    Foreword by Timothy E. Eastman

    Acknowledgments by Roland Faber

    Introduction: Process Philosophy and Extraterrestrial Life: Past, Present, and Future by Andrew M. Davis

    Part I: Astrophilosophy

    1. Prospects for a Universal Philosophy of Organism: Some Initial Reflections by Derek Malone-France

    2. The Cosmological Context of the Origin of Life: Process Philosophy and the Hot Spring Hypothesis by Matthew David Segall and Bruce Damer

    3. The Organic Universe and Otherworldly Lives: Bergson and Sagan by Wahida Khandker

    4. The Connection-Action Principle: A Basis for Process Philosophy, Cosmic Creativity, and Value? by Mark Lupisella

    5. Astrobiological Searches for Life and Shared Knowledge by Chelsea Haramia

    Part II: Exotheology

    6. Evolution Connected to Theory of Value by Process-Relational Astrotheology and Cosmotheology by Theodore Walker Jr.

    7. Astrobiology, Astrotheology, and Cosmic Consciousness by Ted Peters

    8. Astrobiology, Cosmotheology, and the Biological Universe: Implications for Religion and Theology by Steven J. Dick

    9. From Negation to Exemplification: A Deeper Whiteheadian Cosmotheology by Andrew M. Davis

    Part III: Cosmic Religion

    10. Religious Belief and the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life: What’s Worldview Got to Do with It? by Constance M. Bertka

    11. “Worlds as Numerous as the Grains of Sand of the Ganges”: Cosmic Pluralism and Swami Vivekananda’s Religion of the Future by Jeffery D. Long

    12. Multiplicity without Tyranny: The Nonviolent Aim in Jainism and Whitehead’s Process Metaphysics by Brianne Donaldson

    13. Extending the Noosphere into Intergalactic Life: Teilhard de Chardin and the Third Axial Age by Ilia Delio

    14. Astrobiology without Biology: Will AI be Our Emissary or Our Bottleneck? by Noreen Herzfeld

    15. A Darker Forest? The Fermi Paradox and Extraterrestrial Spiritual Life by Roland Faber

    Epilogue: Theological Reflections on Extraterrestrial Life (1968) by Lewis S. Ford

Reviews
Reviews
  • This is a unique, fascinating, and unprecedented collection of cross-disciplinary essays on extraterrestrial life and intelligence. It is also an unusually coherent anthology. Its editors have asked the contributors to say whether and how A. N. Whitehead's "process thought," known for its adventurous and hopeful integration of science, cosmology, philosophy, and religious thought, might illuminate the possible discovery of living and thinking beings elsewhere in our universe—and even in a possibly larger plurality of worlds. In these diverse and well-crafted chapters, readers will discover scientifically informed, philosophically sophisticated, and theologically interesting explorations of a topic that will become increasingly important for years to come.


    — John F. Haught, Georgetown University


    Astrobiologists have long realized the value of philosophy and theology for anticipating the impact of discovering life beyond Earth. But these fields can do so much more. With sophistication and masterful nuance, Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe enchantingly demonstrates the true importance of these disciplines: by contemplating what it means to exist as living beings in the universe, process philosophers and theologians give us provocative insights into advancing the scientific search for alien Others.


    — Douglas A. Vakoch, President of METI International and editor of Xenolinguistics: Towards a Science of Extraterrestrial Language


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