Schelling, Whitehead: Crossing the Threshold (dialogue with Cadell Last)

Cadell Last invited me on his Philosophy Portal podcast a few weeks ago. Here’s the video, which just premiered on YouTube.

The Genesis of an Idea

“Crossing the Threshold” germinated from my dissertation, titled “Cosmotheanthropic Imagination in the Post-Kantian Process Philosophy of Schelling and Whitehead” (2016). This work was a philosophical experiment, a quest to integrate thinking with other modes of human experience such as feeling and willing. It emerged from the cosmotheanthropic principle formulated by Ramundo Panikkar, a significant influence on my thought process. Panikkar’s integration of metaphysics, science, and spirituality resonated with my work at the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Engaging with Kantian Philosophy

A substantial portion of the discussion revolves around engaging with and moving beyond Immanuel Kant’s philosophy. Kant’s critical philosophy, particularly his concepts of phenomena and noumena, set a definitive path for understanding the cosmos and the human soul. However, post-Kantian thinkers like F.W.J. Schelling and Alfred North Whitehead offered a transformative perspective, questioning Kant’s strict epistemological divisions and proposing a more integrative approach to understanding nature and consciousness.

Schelling, Whitehead, and the Nature of Reality

The works of Schelling and Whitehead represent a conceptual convergence that challenges the mechanistic and reductionist views of the universe. Both philosophers propose a vision of nature and the cosmos as inherently creative, alive, and undergoing continuous transformation. This vision contrasts starkly with the mechanistic models of the universe prevalent in modern science. In their view, understanding the universe necessitates acknowledging its inherent subjectivity and interiority, something that Cartesian dualism fails to capture.

The Role of Faith and the Divine

Central to the discourse is the role of faith, not as adherence to dogma, but as an openness to experiencing realities beyond rational cognition. This perspective aligns with the process-relational thought of Whitehead, who views the cosmos as a dynamic interplay of creativity, with God being a participant rather than a detached creator. In this framework, the divine is not an unmoved mover but is intimately involved in the unfolding cosmic process, evolving and being affected by the world.

Implications for Science, Religion, and Society

This philosophical approach has profound implications for science, religion, and societal structures. It calls for a new methodology in science that respects the interiority of nature, a reinvigorated dialogue between science and religion, and a societal shift towards a more integrative understanding of human existence.

Conclusion

“Crossing the Threshold” offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between human consciousness, the natural world, and the divine. It challenges us to rethink our place in the cosmos, not as detached observers but as integral participants in a continuously unfolding creative process. The ideas presented in the book and this interview are a call to a deeper, more meaningful engagement with the mysteries of existence, where science, spirituality, and philosophy converge to reveal the intricate tapestry of reality.