Remembering John B. Cobb, Jr.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of John B. Cobb, Jr., a visionary thinker, tireless advocate for ecological civilization, and a guiding light in process thought. As the founder of the Center for Process Studies, John’s wisdom, courage, and unwavering hope inspired generations of scholars, activists, and spiritual seekers across the globe.

The Center for Process Studies hosted a public memorial for Dr. Cobb on Saturday, February 15th in Claremont, California and we are also collecting photos, reflections, and memories of Dr. Cobb’s life from our community. Use the button below to watch the recording of the memorial livestream and contribute your memories.

The Center for Process Studies fosters interdisciplinary research and education to cultivate holistic understanding for human and planetary flourishing

"If we want a society in which the sense of belonging is strong, people are concerned for one another, and there is strong commitment to the common good, we need a metaphysics that shows that we are in fact part of larger societies and have no existence apart from our relations to others"

"Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains."

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Upcoming Events

November 2025
November 14 at 9:00 am – 10:30 am PST
Possibility Spaces in Cosmology, Biology, and Beyond
Join us for a fascinating webinar featuring Michael Levin (Tufts University) and George F. R. Ellis (University of Cape Town), moderated by Andrew M. Davis (Center for Process Studies). Together, they will explore the curious and profound question of “possibility spaces”—those unseen domains that shape what can emerge in cosmology, biology, and beyond. What are these possibility spaces? How do we come to know them? In what forms do they exist—and perhaps most intriguingly, why do they exist at all?
November 18 at 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST
Process Pop-Up: Eco-Psychology, Plant Medicine, and the Sacred Earth
Join educator Travis Cox for an exploratory webinar discussing the intersections between non-ordinary states of consciousness, our relationships to the more-than-human world, and the connections between human mental health and the health of the living Earth.
November 18 at 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST
Poetry at Play: Reading, Conversation and Making
Kathleen Wakefield will read a selection of her poems followed by questions and conversation with Jay McDaniel. We will cap our session off with an opportunity to enjoy an interactive poetry writing experience. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the process of writing their poem and share their work, if desired.
November 19 at 12:00 am – November 20 at 8:00 am PST
Whitehead for Education, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences: In Pursuit of a Metamorphosis of Pedagogy
In the conference presentations, we encourage contributors to share the results of transdisciplinary research on the foundations of education (and, more broadly, the humanities), utilizing the interpretive framework offered by Whiteheadian process philosophy. We also warmly invite reflections on Whitehead’s educational ideas from the standpoint of your own disciplinary practice, whether it be the natural sciences, humanities or social sciences, or spiritual disciplines.

Upcoming Conferences

Process Philosophy, Plasma Cosmology, and Transpersonal Psychology

Organized by California Institute of Integral Studies, Center for Process Studies, University of Exeter, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

This workshop brings together leading scientists and philosophers to explore the intricate relationships between plasma, consciousness, and cosmic evolution. In a collaborative effort, we will examine how plasma cosmology challenges traditional paradigms, offering new perspectives on the nature of life, intelligence, and experience. Our goal is to cultivate a deeper comprehension of plasma’s far-reaching implications for understanding the universe and our place within it.