Recet Events & Projects
I recently gave a paper at the American Academy of Religion, San Diego, in the Open and Relational Theologies Unit. Along with other presenters, I responded to the question: “What kind ‘God’ is most worthy of worship.” Annoying question you say? I agree with you. Nevertheless, an existentially and philosophically significant question? I agree with you even more. See if you agree with my approach. You can download my paper, "God, Value and Ontological Gratitude: On the Axiological Foundations of Worship" by following the link under the "Papers" tab above.
The session was quite well attended and the papers/questions/discussions were fantastic. One attendee commented that this session was "one of the richest" that he had ever heard at an AAR meeting.
Upcoming Projects
I’m currently writing my dissertation, as well as working on two edited volumes.
My dissertation investigates the nature of ultimacy and explanation in the work of Alfred North Whitehead, Keith Ward and John Leslie, particularly as it relates to the necessary status of, and relationship between, Mind and Value in the Universe. Key problems of exploration include: why there is anything at all, the place of Mind and Value in the philosophical tradition, the nature, locus and efficacy of the Possible, the mystery of Intelligibility and Mathematical Rationality, and the weight of objective Aesthetic, Moral and Ethical Values in the cosmos. What emerges is an integrative metaphysical scheme wherein Mind, Value and the Cosmos are mutually immanent and irreducible domains of a system of Ultimate Relationality. My tentative title is: "Mind, Value and the Cosmos: On the Relational Nature of Ultimacy."
Alongside Roland Faber and Michael Halewood, I've recently edited a forthcoming book from Lexington titled: Propositions in the Making: Experiments in a Whiteheadian Laboratory. The chapters comprising this volume originated in a conference at Claremont School of Theology in 2016. The book assembles creative interdisciplinary applications of Whitehead's understanding of propositions as "lures for feeling." It will be released in Dec, 2019. Check it out under my "Books" tab.
I'm also integrating and editing the first-ever book of Roland Faber's writings on Whiteheadian mysticism, multiplicity and divinity. The title is: Depths As Yet Unspoken: Whiteheadian Excursions in Mysticism, Multiplicity and Divinity. Faber remains one of the world authorities on all-things-Whitehead, and one of the most creative philosophical minds alive. The book will be released in the new year under Pickwick.