A Report on Beijing Memorial Services for Dr. John B. Cobb Jr.
At 9:16 PM, Dec. 26th, 2024, Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr., the “eco-sage” of our time, passed away peacefully at his residence in Claremont, USA, at the age of 100. In order to commemorate this world famous postmodern thinker, process philosopher and flagship of the world eco-civilization movement with world influence, the Chinese process scholars and expert researchers on eco-civilization gathered in Beijing and held a memorial meeting for Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. on Dec. 30th, 2024. The memorial meeting was organized by Chinese Process Society, Beijing Whitehead Institute of Education, Science and Technology and Beijing Whitehead Kindergarten, and co-organized by Whitehead Research Center (WRC) of BNU-HKBU United International College (UIC). Prof. Yang Fubin, a researcher of WRC of UIC presided over the memorial meeting and delivered a speech, expressing his sincere gratitude to all the experts and scholars who were able to attend the memorial meeting despite their busy schedules, and recalling the image of Prof. Cobb in his mind. Prof. Yang believes: Prof. Cobb has left us a rich and indelible spiritual legacy with his profound academic insight and deep understanding of process philosophy, and his thought has crossed the barriers between the industrial age and the substance philosophy, inspired countless people in the world to pursue wisdom and truth, and vigorously drummed and called for the construction of the global eco-civilization, calling countless humane and wise people to fight for it. Today, we are here not only to look back on his life, works and ideas, but further to inherit and carry forward his spirit, and to elevate to a new height the cause of process thought, the cause of eco-civilization for the common good of nature and humankind.
In her speech, Dr. Fan Meijun, Co-Director of China Project at the Center for Process Studies and Dean of the Cobb Eco-Academy, fondly recalled Dr. Cobb’s legendary life in her sharing and described him as “the next-door old uncle” and “the tough guy Dr. Cobb”. She mentioned: in the last few months, Dr. Cobb had repeatedly said that if he could not make it to his 100th birthday, he’d leave without regrets at any time, implying that he was ready to say goodbye to this life of his, not because he’s lost interest in life, but because he’s enjoyed the richness of life. He understood “enjoyment” not in any hedonistic or self-indulgent sense, but in the complete sense of Whitehead’s “enjoyment of experience,” embracing as many things as he could. He fulfilled his historical mission, and kept an open mind when facing death. He put an end to his Autobiography this way: “I am ready to accept surprises. I’m looking forward to a new adventure.” This way he passed away. However, Dr. Cobb had students the world over, and his spirit will inspire us forever. “It is better to die in love and cooperation than to live in loveless loneliness.” This is the last teaching he left us. Let’s remember Dr. Cobb’s teachings, carry on his spirit, and do our part to build a better world of love and empathy.
Liu Xiaoting, Vice Chairperson of the Chinese Society of Dialectics of Nature and Professor of the School of Philosophy of Beijing Normal University, holds that Dr. Cobb has lived out the depth and breadth of life with a kind of transcendent purity. In today’s troubled and complex era, like an unsullied white cloud in the sky, like a breeze blowing through our hearts, Dr. Cobb gave us endless comfort and inspiration. His attitude toward life and death was open-minded while indifferent, and he chose to live as well as to die in an open and happy manner. As a small member of this vast world, I am extremely grateful to live in the era of Dr. Cobb’s, illuminated by his spiritual light and attracted by his wisdom and personality charm. Away as Dr. Cobb has passed, his spirit has been engraved in our hearts forever, so that we feel as if we were bathed in his spiritual world, which is as smart as a dancer and as warm as the spring breeze.
Qu Yuehou, the translator of Process Theology and a former professor of PLA Logistics College, described the help and influence that Dr. Cobb has imposed upon him in economy, knowledge and personality in the past 20 years. He mentioned: Dr. Cobb was a process giant, an ecological sage, and a model of the century, with his amiable face, deep eyes, innocent smile, rich knowledge, lofty wisdom and hearty kindness. He selflessly dedicated all his property, knowledge and wisdom, and thus was worthy of what the Chinese ancients described: a sage, a person with benevolence, longevity, and “great virtue”. The passing of Dr. Cobb marked the end of the third generation of process philosophy. As Dr. Cobb predicted, the new center, new generation of process philosophy may be in China, may be Chinese people. We should emulate the virtuous and wise, and look up to the lofty mountains. To inherit and carry forward Dr. Cobb’s study and career might be our best memorial to him. Dr. Cobb might feel touched and share mutual affinity when we recall and cherish our memory of him today.
Zhang Xiuhua, Prof. of the School of Marxism of China University of Political Science and Law and Director of the Research Center of Process Marxism and Practical Philosophy, sadly gave a speech, saying that Dr. Cobb has accumulated and practiced in his lifetime those beautiful concepts belonging to the human civilization—beauty, dedication, courage, adventure and pursuit. Even though Dr. Cobb already passed away, he has kept and passed down these good values. Today, we come to Whitehead Kindergarten to commemorate and cherish the memory of Dr. Cobb. At this moment, everyone here is filled with strength and gratitude, grateful to Dr. Cobb for leading us to such a step—pushing us to bring love to the community, to every being and living thing in the world around us.
In his speech, Mr. Li Wenliang, Chairperson of Guangdong Dongguan Taiwei Electronics Co., LTD., a winner of the John Cobb Common Good Award in 2024, said: he had mentioned when talking with Dr. Cobb that the 51-25-24 governance model of “Harmony in Nature, Earth and Human Beings” was a response to the globalism proposed by Dr. Cobb in 1999. Dr. Cobb was very happy after hearing it and replied: “This will be the best 100th birthday present you give me.” In 20 hours before Dr. Cobb passed away, Dongguan Taiwei Electronics joined forces with Tang Jinming, Chairperson of Suzhou Wujiang Zhongcheng Industry, and Wu Chunmei, Chairperson of Shaoxing Delong Industry, forming a union of the governance mechanism of Harmony in Nature, Earth and Human Beings under life community. We will promote globally Dr. Cobb’s earthism with great power, enabling the flower of eco-civilization to bloom all over the world, and letting Dr. Cobb’s spirit shine brightly.
Prof. Yang Zhihua, Deputy Dean of the School of Marxism of Beijing Forestry University, once a visiting scholar at Claremont, expressed his admiration and deep sorrow for Dr. Cobb. He said: away as Dr. Cobb has passed, his wisdom, kindness, bravery and transcendental understanding are the spiritual wealth he left for us to follow. To express his hearty admiration for Dr. Cobb, he quoted the sayings “高山仰止,景行行止 (Lofty mountains are to look up to, while wide roads are to walk on. Although I cannot reach it, my heart still longs for it” which Sima Qian (c. 145 or 135 BC – 86 BC) once praised Confucius, and brought his own handwritten copy of “高山仰止，景行行止。虽不能至，然心向往之”.
Ms. Hu Yingfeng, Researcher and Editor-in-Chief of Poyang Lake Journal, a top Chinese journal on ecological civilization, asked Ms. Wang Junwei, Associate Editor-in-Chief of Poyang Lake Journal, to read the eulogy from their editorial committee. The eulogy mentioned: before Dr. Cobb passed away, Poyang Lake Journal had the honor to have issued Dr. Cobb’s academic album in the “Ecological Academic Masters” Column of the fifth issue in 2021 and the fifth issue in 2023, respectively. Their editors were moved, time and again, by Dr. Cobb’s profound academic thoughts, extraordinary personality charm and enthusiasm for promoting the construction of eco-civilization on a global scale. Dr. Cobb has done a lot of good throughout his life and achieved complete merits. We sincerely pray for Dr. Cobb: May his soul return to the eternal realm and rest in peace forever! May the ecological writings and spirit he had created in his 100-year lifetime live on in the world forever—and keep leaving beautiful ecological imprints!
Ding Hongwei, Head of the Cobb Dr. Eco-Civilization Workstation in Luoyang, Chairperson of Taigu Education Group, and Chairperson of Luoyang Longmen Ocean Museum, tells of the great love of Dr. Cobb, who had donated all his property to promote the ecological cause and to practice the persistence of eco-civilization in his heart, while giving up much material comfort and leading an extremely simple life. Despite the age over 90, he had made many trips to China, his footsteps covering a good number of places. Nowadays, ecological education and organic education are not only of great significance at the national level in China, but also the indispensable practice in the context of elementary education and environmental and ecological education. Therefore, we will follow Dr. Cobb’s steps and unite international resources to make greater achievements in talent development, scientific research, social service and cultural inheritance, and to make our ecological practice and eco-civilization education more outstanding.
Prof. Guo Haipeng, Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Studies and Director of WRC of BNU-HKBU UIC, expressed his deep condolences on the passing of Dr. Cobb. He maintains: Dr. Cobb’s passing not only robbed us of a world-class leader in process philosophy and constructive postmodernism, but also of an active promoter of the theory and practice of eco-civilization and a kind elder and “saintly scholar” in our hearts. We will inherit and develop his thoughts on process philosophy and constructive postmodernism, on eco-civilization, and on process organic education that he had actively advocated and elucidated in his life, and continue to promote the causes of the research on process philosophy in China and in the world, of the construction of eco-civilization, and of the theoretical research and practice of process organic education, with the light of process thought illuminating our way forward.
Ms. Zhang Fan, Founder of Parallel-Box Education, made the special trip—flying from Shanghai to Beijing—this morning just to attend this memorial meeting. She said in her speech: deeply inspired after attending the international symposium on “Process Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence and Eco-Civilization” and the 16th China-US Process Summer Academy held in Qiandao Lake, Zhejiang last year, she began to systematically study Cobb’s educational concepts on eco-civilization and tried to apply them to practical courses, looking from a real perspective of eco-civilization at the relationship between the young and the world and at how young people integrate themselves into the world and seek for their own values and sense of mission. She expressed her gratitude to Dr. Cobb for his guiding the young people, and promised to keep going, continuing to start from life and work and from seeking for their own mission, and strive to integrate themselves into the world of eco-civilization in the future.
Prof. Yang Li of Harbin Normal University fondly recalled the last time Dr. Cobb, accompanied by Dr. Wang Zhihe and Dr. Fan Meiyun, went to Harbin. Dr. Cobb, 93 years old though, insisted on standing for nearly two hours when making the wonderful academic report, which deeply impressed her. Xu Xuefei, a 2018 graduate student, wrote a banner—with “我们爱您 (We love You)” on it on behalf of all the teachers and students present, and then they signed on the banner and sent it to Dr. Cobb. How unforgettable the scene is! Dr. Cobb, together with Dr. Wang Zhihe and Dr. Fan Meijun, came to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of Harbin Normal University, and participated in the 45th event of the extensive reading series of the Reading Salon of Zhitian Society, talking about “Organic Philosophical Methodology”, from which we also felt the depth and originality of Dr. Cobb’s thought. What Dr. Cobb said and did, especially his persistent pursuit and belief, deeply infected, influenced and inspired everyone present. What can comfort Dr. Cobb is that Harbin Normal University is becoming a highland of process education in China day by day, not only in that the “Reading Whitehead at Night Club” has kept on reading every night for 8 years, but in that teachers and students there have published a large number of high-level research results on process education, and her own monograph, Hope for a Way Out of the Dilemma: A Theory on Organic Teaching, was successfully published last year.
Yan Xiaoxia, Director of Beijing Whitehead Kindergarten, expressed her deep condolences to Dr. Cobb in her speech. She said: in a sense, she, a kindergarten teacher, and Dr. Cobb, a world renown scholar, must have belonged to two different worlds, whether in thoughts and ideas or in research directions. But thanks to those who built this bridge for her to learn and communicate, she felt connected with Dr. Cobb in another sense. His smile enabled them to get to the same world by crossing identities, boundaries, languages, and academic and research distances. Dr. Cobb had visited the kindergarten three times, telling stories to children, doing handwork and enjoying meals together with the children. In her eyes, Dr. Cobb was not only a great man, but further a dear old grandpa. At the very moment, she felt overwhelmed and nearly drowned by a flood of grief. They will follow Dr. Cobb’s footsteps and embrace the whole world with love.
Lu Jianjun, a professor of Lingnan Normal University in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, recalled: as a junior to Dr. Cobb, he witnessed that every time Dr. Cobb came to China, he was like a spark that set the Chinese land ablaze with researches on process philosophy, on postmodern culture and on eco-civilization, really having a sense that “a single spark can start a prairie fire”. We should gather our strength to understand and pay close attention to the research and application of process philosophy, of constructive postmodernism and of eco-civilization. Although Dr. Cobb is no longer with us, his character and spirit will remain in our hearts forever. He taught us how to be a person, how to do things, and how to face life. Our memories of him are not only a personal longing and admiration for him, but also to inherit and carry forward the spirit and values he represented.
Wang Zhihe, Executive Director of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, said in his speech: although despite the fact that there are many outstanding scholars in contemporary Western academia—from Habermas and Derrida to Huntington and Rawls—no one has stepped out of the ivory tower like Dr. Cobb, who bowed down to play in the game in person and directly devoted himself to China’s construction of eco-civilization. His footprints penetrated into the ecological terraces of Miao Village in Guizhou, into the organic rice fields of Lishui in Zhejiang, into the organic tea gardens of Pu’er in Yunnan, and even into the mountain paths of Xuling eco-village. That has endeared him to many Chinese people, from state leaders to organic farmers. For instance, when he had his hair cut at Liandu, Lishui, Zhejiang, the young barber even refused to charge him any money, which was rare indeed. In the last days of his life, Dr. Cobb often stressed to visitors that his greatest achievement in life was what he had done in China. Despite the difficulties and hardships, China’s brave efforts to forge ahead on the path towards eco-civilization gave him hope and made him feel particularly happy. He was glad that he could have played a certain role in this great adventure, and he was willing to let more people in the Western society know about this great adventure of China.
The title of the world’s first monograph on ecological philosophy written by Dr. Cobb is, Is It Too Late? At the 17th Claremont International Forum on eco-civilization in May,2024, President Li Wenliang, on behalf of Chinese ecological entrepreneurs, said: “Dr. Cobb, here we come, here the Chinese people come, so it won’t be too late.” Therefore, we’ve changed the theme of the 18th Claremont International Forum on eco-civilization in 2025 from “Is it too Late?” to “It won’t be too late”, which represents the Chinese people’s great aspiration and hope. If the Chinese come to “play in the ball game”, the spring of eco-civilization will really not be far away. In fact, the Chinese people are actually making great efforts today: “eco-civilization” has been written into both China’s Constitution and the Party’s Constitution, while “GDP worship” has come down from the altar; the China-made new energy vehicles has come to the world’s leading place; and China is the only country in which deserts are decreasing, while deserts in other areas of the world keep expanding. Therefore, I would like to thank all my colleagues in the Chinese process community for your important role in spreading process philosophy and Prof. Cobb’s ideas on postmodern eco-civilization. Although Dr. Cobb passed away, we will carry on his legacy and sow the seeds of eco-civilization everywhere, so that the flowers of eco-civilization will bloom all over China and the world.
In addition to the speeches of the delegates present, the elegiac couplets and mourning poems of some Chinese scholars who failed to attend the memorial meeting were also delivered. Among them, the elegiac couplet of Zhang Xiaode, a senior professor of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) is as follows:
A life of integrity dedicated to the well-being of humanity kindly
A century of wisdom dedicated to eco-civilization selflessly
A great sage and philosopher, Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr.
Prof. Lu Shuyuan, a famous eco-culture scholar, a winner of the John Cobb Common Good Award, and Director of the Research Center for Constructive Postmodern Eco-Culture at Huanghe Science and Technology College, composed the following poem:
In Memory of Dear Dr. Cobb
On this side of the world,
In this winter when the earth is cold,
We see
The emaciated figure of this extraordinary philosopher,
With a sad smile,
Waving goodbye to us.
In grey mountains, in vast seas,
In clouds far away, on roads long,
In every tree and plant, inseparable sentimental attachment can be found.
In Claremont,
In this town surrounded by green trees,
The small, volute room
Is the ark to keep from the coming flood,
Is the temple at the time of doom.
An elder man healthy in old age,
With bright eyes shone with the light of Whitehead philosophy,
Searched for a chance for the earth to run smoothly,
Planned a way for mankind to be reborn.
The red surcoat he wore now and then,
Is the warm winter sun that can warm people’s hearts,
Is the banner guiding us in seeking the common good of mankind.
In Duan Village, China,
Just a month ago,
Your figure appeared on the land of China.
In this small village with nothing out of the ordinary,
Your powerful words,
Accompanied by Chinese gongs and drums,
Resounded in the hearts of the Chinese farmers:
Eco-civilization cannot be separated from rural revitalization.
Rural revitalization cannot be separated from eco-culture.
Villages must become ecological villages.
Villagers must become ecological villagers.
The hope of eco-civilization lies in China!
This should have been your last speech before you left.
Each word was like a full seed,
Sown in the dark loessial soils of Duan Village,
Taking root, sprouting, and bearing fruits.
The villagers, tears in eyes, said you left in such a hurry,
You didn’t even have time to taste the “Chinese yam” produced in Duan Village,
You didn’t even have time to drink a cup of chrysanthemum tea of Duan Village.
Villagers of Duan Village will always remember you,
Your expectations have been etched in their hearts.
Whitehead, Penrose and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin,
They all tell us:
A person and the universe are born as one.
The soul of a person is the spirit of the universe.
A great soul is the immortal spirit of the universe.
How could you have died?
You never passed away.
You were just wandering to another place in the universe:
To Ziwei Star, Yinhe Star, Longchi Star or Fengge Star.
At Cygnus, Lyra, Taurus or Aries,
You were still living in the same magnificent space with us.
The twinkling starlight is your face.
The starlight face of yours
Will always be a call and revelation to us.
In addition, some Chinese scholars who could not attend the memorial meeting for various reasons also sent messages of condolence. In his condolence message, Prof. Ouyang Kang, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, President of the National Governance Research Institute, and Director of Wuhan Process Philosophy Research Center, reviewed his academic exchanges with Dr. Cobb for over 20 years. His achievements are not only reflected in his published articles, such as “Constructive Postmodernism and Globalization: An Interview with the American Postmodern Thinker John Cobb Jr.” (World Philosophy, No. 3, 2002) and “The Siege and Transcendence of Modernization—On the Value Orientation and Enlightenment of Constructive Postmodernism ” (Qiushi Journal, No. 1, 2003), but also are embodied in his own academic research visions and methods deeply embedded in process philosophy and post-modernization.
Prof. Ouyang wrote:
“Looking back on Prof. Cobb’s 100-year life journey, we will always be grateful to him for his lifelong efforts to promote the critique of modernity, disseminate postmodern thought, and promote the healthy development of modernization! We will always admire his active efforts and fruitful achievements in promoting process philosophy and cross-cultural exchanges!
We will never forget his outstanding contributions to the promotion of organic philosophy, environmental protection and eco-civilization construction!
We will always be grateful to Dr. Cobb for his special impetus to the development of China, especially its progress of eco-civilization, and for his outstanding achievements!
We will always cherish the precious friendship and good times we have had with Dr. Cobb and with his colleagues at the Postmodern Research Institute for over 20 years!
We will always learn from Dr. Cobb’s world vision, human feelings and sage character!”
Prof. Wang Kun, Dean of the School of Marxism of Zhejiang Normal University, sent the following elegiac couplet: “The sage and the wise united, this style will last forever!” Prof. Hu Yuegao of China Agricultural University said: “We are grateful to Prof. Cobb for his compassionate teachings over the past 100 years, guiding people in trouble to move forward. He had worked his heart out to have helped a large number of conscious people to grow up and take actions! The spirit and thought of Prof. Cobb will benefit the future as the common wealth of all mankind, and will be immortal! Prof. Zhang Zailin of Xi’an Jiaotong University said in his message of condolence: Mourning the departure of Dr. Cobb, a master of ecological philosophy of the generation. It’s our bounden responsibility to inherit and carry forward his unfinished career! Prof. Lin Keqin, Executive Vice President of China Cognitive Communication Society and Professor of Sichuan International Studies University, said in his message of condolence: “Looking forward to the tree of eco-civilization planted by Dr. Cobb to spread its branches and leaves around the world and achieve common prosperity!”
Prof. He Huili of China Agricultural University said: “The passing of Dr. Cobb is a great loss to the practice and theory of eco-civilization in the world. His benevolence, wisdom and clarity, penetrating through history and covering national boundaries, will forever inspire people around the world who love ecology and cherish peace…”
Li Xiaojuan, Founder of the Process Research Center of Heilongjiang University, said in her message of condolence: not to mention his title or status, I’d only say: Dr. Cobb, the elderly gentleman, having enjoyed the longest life among the people I’ve ever met, was also the most elegant, the most graceful, the most intelligent and the most considerate of them all. I invited Dr. Cobb to Heilongjiang University 20 years ago, where I met him for the first time; and he invited me to his home at Claremont, USA, so we were kind of friends beyond age. Our friendship and cooperation ever since has led to the establishment of the Process Research Center of Heilongjiang University… Death is inevitable, or lighter than a feather or heavier than Mount Tai. There is no doubt that Dr. Cobb’s passing is an extremely heavy loss for everyone!
Mr. Zhou Bangxian, a famous translator of process philosophy, expressed his sorrow with an eight-line Chinese poem with seven characters in each line:
A great scholar of the generation passed away,
Scholars throughout China lament with one voice.
Time and again risking adventure of ideas,
Process thought taking root everywhere.
Once brazening to worship the holy land,
Mediocre and not lucky enough to become his student.
The west wind rolls the snow in the vast sky,
Where to find the soul of poetry and learning?
Prof. Chen Guangju, Vice President of Huzhou Two-Mountain Research Academy, said: throughout history, there always have been people coming from the depths of civilization, getting down to the earth, sowing in the souls, and passing on hope. They do not belong only to our era, but to all eras of mankind, and Dr. John Cobb Jr. is a good case in point. In our hearts, Dr. Cobb has gone through trials and hardships for a hundred years, standing firm in the spirit of being good in his actions, words and moral composition, exploring the true meaning of ecology, production, living and life, and truly achieving the goal of “building a mind for the world, leading a life for the people, succeeding the learning of ancient sages, and ushering peace for all generations.”
The condolence message from Mr. Liu Sigang of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences is filled with deep feelings: “Dear Dr. Cobb, you have lived your life for the common good of all living beings. With great compassion and aspiration, you used your extraordinary prophetic wisdom to carry out your magnificent mission of saving the world from the fires and floods. Being selfless and oblivious of yourself, being unswerving and persistent, with your steps covering places the world over, cutting through thorns and difficulties, you went through your 100-year life journey, having achieved the glorious life of a civilized prophet and ecological sage, awakening, inspiring and guiding more and more people in the world to step onto the bright road of a postmodern eco-civilization that transcends modern Western civilization.”
In his condolence message, Li Hongyan, President of the Green Ark International Alliance (GAIA), expressed his gratitude towards Dr. Cobb, Honorary President of GAIA and the World Summit Club for Sustainable Development, for his strong support for GAIA. He emphasized: Dr. Cobb’s ideas and viewpoints have awakened people to the deeper sense of life! Dr. Cobb’s departure is a great loss for the Cobb family and a major loss for the global eco-civilization movement. May Dr. Cobb’s noble spiritual soul live forever and rest in peace! With our memories of Dr. Cobb and our hopes for a better future of global eco-civilization, we will continue to move forward with confidence, hope, and great love!
Prof. Ren Ping, former president of Jiangsu Normal University, now director of Soochow Process Center at Suzhou University, said in his condolence message: Although 2024 passed, it will always be a heartbreaking and unforgettable year for us, for Dr. John B. Cobb Jr., the spiritual mentor respected by both Chinese and American people, passed away this year. We feel overwhelmed with grief. On behalf of all my colleagues at Suzhou University, please allow me to express my condolences on the passing of Prof. Cobb and to his family and relatives! Oceans apart though, Prof. Cobb’s ideas have long been widely spread across the Pacific and have won the hearts of the people on both sides. The process thought promoted by Prof. Cobb and the cause of the world eco-civilization will surely be passed down from generation to generation, with future generations carrying on the legacy and striving forward. We, colleagues at Suzhou University, will definitely follow the path pioneered by Prof. Cobb with determination.
Rest in peace! Dr. Cobb! You will always live our hearts!
The Chinese version of this report was respectively published in Culture Communication December 31, 2024 and Sino US Times January 4, 2025. Translated by Xie Bangxiu.
Wang Xueting is a PhD candidate at the School of Education at Harbin Normal University. Her research interests are principles of education and process philosophy of education.