Prosessiteoria

Prosessiteoria, often translated as process theory, is a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the dynamic, changing, and temporal nature of reality. It contrasts with substance theory, which views reality as composed of static, unchanging entities. Process theory suggests that events, processes, and relationships are more fundamental than enduring objects or substances.

Key proponents of process theory include Alfred North Whitehead, whose philosophy of organism views the world as a continuous flux of actual occasions, each arising from and contributing to the past and future. In this view, everything is in a state of becoming, and identity is understood through continuity of experience and causal connection rather than fixed essence.

This perspective has implications across various fields. In philosophy of science, it can inform how we understand scientific laws and theories as evolving descriptions of ongoing phenomena. In theology, it can offer a view of God as not an immutable being, but one actively involved in and responsive to the unfolding of the universe. In psychology, process theories often focus on developmental changes and the dynamic interplay of internal and external factors shaping human experience. The core idea is that understanding reality requires attending to its inherent movement, transformation, and interconnectedness over time.