About IPN

The International Process Network (IPN) is a global network for process-relational philosophies.

Process-relational philosophies (or “process”), in general, have creativity, organic change over time, interiority and interdependence as fundamental aspects of their understandings. Process is part of an ancient tradition dating in the West at least from Heraclites, in Asia from early Hindu and Chinese writings, and around the world from many indigenous traditions. In more recent times, it has been expressed in the thought of such philosophers as Sri Aurobindo, Nishida Kitarô, Henri Bergson, Teilhard de Chardin.

Most notably it is found in the work of Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) and Charles Hartshorne (1897-2000)

IPN came into being in 2001 at the International Whitehead Summit held in Claremont, California. Its purpose, as stated in its bylaws, is “to support, generate and disseminate an international discourse on the meaning and implications of process thought across academic disciplines and conflicting truth-claims, and in relation to the entire community of life and the cosmos.”

Membership in IPN is available to individuals and organizations who are interested in understanding, teaching, developing, applying, promoting or supporting process. 

IPN has sponsored International Whitehead Conferences in Beijing (2002), Seoul (2004), Salzburg (2006), and Bangalore ( 2009).

The next conference in this series will be held in Tokyo in September 2011.



Other activities of IPN include:

  • providing process-related educational programs and resources;
  • facilitating publication, translation, and distribution of process-oriented works;
  • supporting process academics and students;
  • promoting member programs, conferences, publications, and activities;
  • sponsoring international and regional conferences;
  • disseminating declarations, resolutions, and awards;
  • encouraging the development of process-related organizations; and
  • maintaining a website that provides information on process thought and member activities.