A Study On Hartshorne’s Thoughts

Afred North Whitehead once pointed that his Process thoughts is more close to Eastern thoughts,especially close to traditional Chinese thoughts.That is why Chinese scholars are more easily to accept process thoughts than other western philosophy,and now there are lots of Chinese scholars who study on it. Many works by Afred North Whitehead, John Cobb and David Griffen are translated into Chinese.However, the very important representative of process thoughts, Charles Hartshorne, none of his works was translated.In order to make up the blank of Hartshorne’s study in China,the thesis is expounded the main philosophy and theology thoughts of Charles Hartshorne.The thesis sets forth from the analyzing of metaphysics principle and methodology of Charles Hartshorne,and later introduces his main philosophy thoughts and theology thoughts, at the same time states the differences between Whitehead and Hartshorne,in order to let us know more clear why process thoughts is developed in different directions.The first chapter introduces Hartshorne’s autobiography and his main works; second chapter introduced his metaphysics principle and methodology.Charls Hartshorne was a famous metaphysician,only we know his metaphysics principle and methodology,we can understand his philosphy and theology.The third chapter introduces his most important philosophy thought panpsychism and compares differences between Whitehead and Hartshorne in this piont. Panpsychism is the basis of the process thoughts, and only we know it,we can know why process thoughts is called organic philosophy,and the difference between process thoughts and traditional western philosophy. The chapter from fourth to sixth introduces Hartshorne’s theology.The ontological argument of God’s existence running through the whole academic career of Charles Hartshorne,and it is the basis of his entire religion thoughts.That is why I first introduce his ontological argument of God’s existence.The seventh chapter introduces his aesthetics.Although aesthetics is just one part of his process thoughts, it penetrates in his entire philosophy. If we can know his aesthetics,we can know better about his philosophy.The last chapter summarizes Hartshorne’s thoughts.Although process thoughts is not the main stream of western philosophy, that is not to say process thoughts is on value.Charles Hartshorne’s thoughts influence a lot of scholars and people about their undertanding of the world and God,and I hope his thoughts can have a greater development in nowadays.