On September 27, 2024, the "A Century of Process Thought: Commemorating the Intellectual Legacy of Whitehead’s Harvard Period and Its Influence" International Academic Symposium was held at Harvard University. As a major academic event marking the 100th anniversary of Whitehead’s first public lecture on process philosophy at Harvard University, this conference was initiated by the Whitehead Research Center at the Graduate School of Beijing Normal Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), and co-organized with the American Process Studies Center, the Harvard University Chinese Students and Scholars Association, and the Boston School of Modern Languages (BSML). More than 50 scholars from China, the United States, and Europe gathered at Harvard, with over 700 online attendees, to discuss the influence of Whitehead's philosophy and its contemporary significance.

Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947)

A renowned British mathematician and philosopher

Developed process philosophy during his time at Harvard University (1924-1937)

Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., the conference became an important platform for promoting academic exchange between the two countries. Consul General Geng Junwei and Vice Consul Ma Jingjin from the Consulate General of China in New York attended the opening ceremony. Whitehead’s descendant, George Whitehead, third-generation heir of process philosophy, Dr. John Cobb Jr., a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a renowned postmodern thinker, Dr. Jay McDaniel, Chairman of the American Process Studies Center’s Board of Directors, were invited to deliver video messages, congratulating the conference and sharing profound insights into the development of Whitehead’s philosophy. Professor Chen Zhi, President of BNBU, and Professor Tang Tao, Dean of the Graduate School, delivered video addresses welcoming the guests and scholars, showcasing BNBU’s leadership in promoting the development of Whitehead’s thought research.

President Chen Zhi pointed out that Whitehead's organic educational philosophy emphasizes the dynamism and interconnectivity of learning, understanding the world as a comprehensive and complex whole, which aligns with the educational philosophy advocated by BNBU.

Professor Tang Tao emphasized that Whitehead’s philosophical ideas strongly align with BNBU’s mission to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Whitehead’s process philosophy has been applied in various fields such as education, physics, economics, and psychology, serving as the philosophical foundation for postmodern whole-person education. To further promote interdisciplinary research and international collaboration on Whitehead’s thought, BNBU established the Whitehead Research Center under the Institute of Advanced Study in 2023.

The symposium, co-organized by the Whitehead Research Center at BNBU, focused on Whitehead's intellectual development at Harvard, his influence on Chinese scholars, comparative studies between Whitehead’s philosophy and Chinese philosophy, as well as the development and application of Whitehead’s ideas in China, and the future direction of process philosophy. Many scholars from the Whitehead Research Center delivered presentations.

Group Photo of Guests and Scholars in Front of Emerson Hall at Harvard University

Professor Guo Haipeng, Acting Dean of the School of General Education at BNBU, Executive Director of the Center for Whitehead Studies, and Chair of this International Academic Symposium, shared a presentation titled Rhythm and Yin-Yang in Whitehead’s Speculative Philosophical Concept Exploration.

Professor Li Jianhui, Dean of Academic Affairs at BNBU, presented on The Century Debate Between Bergson and Einstein and Its Influence on Whitehead.

Professor Han Ziqi, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UIC, shared on The I Ching and Whitehead.

Professor Yang Fubin from the General Education College at UIC presented on Marx and Whitehead’s Concept of Process.

The gathering of process philosophy scholars from China, the U.S., and Europe further solidified BNBU’s leading position in global process philosophy research. The collaboration with the American Process Studies Center, Harvard University, and other top academic institutions worldwide showcased BNBU’s outstanding ability to promote interdisciplinary and cross-national academic cooperation. This not only expanded the university’s global academic network but also laid a solid foundation for BNBU’s international development in the highly concentrated Boston area of top-tier higher education institutions.

Source | NPRO

Center for Whitehead Studies of the Institute for Advanced Study

Editor | Deng Yawen and Yu Shiying