An Epoch-Making Advance in Human Thought: On the Theoretical Significance of Process Philosophy.

This paper centers on the philosophy of process, offering a systematic exposition of its theoretical origins, core concepts, and interdisciplinary influence. Initially developed by Alfred North Whitehead and others, process philosophy challenges the foundations of traditional substance-based metaphysics, asserting that reality is fundamentally composed of dynamic processes rather than static entities. Informed by scientific developments such as relativity theory and quantum mechanics, process philosophy emphasizes change, relationality, and holism. It deconstructs substance-oriented thinking through the concept of "prehension," proposing that the essence of reality lies in ongoing becoming. The philosophy further reconstructs the notion of time, rejecting linear historical progressivism and highlighting the creative and self-transcending nature of temporal experience. Advocating ecological symbiosis, it critiques anthropocentrism and promotes the interconnectedness of all beings--as exemplified by ecological initiatives such as Singapore's "Garden City" model. Process philosophy has catalyzed paradigm shifts across various domains, including ecological conservation (e.g., the restoration of the Sanjiangyuan region), technological innovation (e.g., swarm intelligence in autonomous driving), and education (e.g., phenomenon-based learning in Finland), thereby providing a robust philosophical foundation for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]