Process Philosophy: Change & Flexibility in Society - Essay Sample

Introduction

Process philosophy emphasizes that all facets in society change over time instead of remaining stagnant. Process philosophy highlights the importance of the different aspects of society is characterized by one holistic scheme. Philosophers feel the need for the mind to be flexible to specific ideas. The human mind coordinates how the body acts, and the body, when connected to other bodies, makes up a society (Hill, 1999). At the center of understanding, culture is the debate about God and religion and its effect on the lives of people. Contrary to process philosophy, God's nature is seen as a very consistent one with fixed values and beliefs. Process philosophy has taken place in countries all over the world in decades. In the united states, process philosophy has been witnessed in intuitions such as marriage and family.

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Family

Family and marriage are the basis of the other relationships existing in society. The family institution is fundamental in the community because it is where people get their first identity. Marriage is the legal contract, religious rite, or social practice that binds two or more people within the acceptable jurisdictions (Brake, 2009). Marriage is not only a social and legal process, but it also comes with economic responsibilities. Historically, married couples have the obligation of procreating, thus forming a family of their own. In the US, married people are more likely to find happiness in life than unmarried people.

In the United States, the law was at first opposed to divorce. The union of marriage was also restricted concerning gender. Legal marriage was supposed to between people of the opposite sex. Marriage is also a legal contract the involved only two people. However, due to process philosophy, the previous views on marriage have been changing over the years. The government has had to balance the social context, religious beliefs, and legal obligations of the parties involved in unions. Marriages affect the people it is uniting and affect their offspring and the community at large.

From the Biblical worldview, marriage is meant to join two people, a man, and a woman, who love each and make them one. This is seen in the Bible, where God created the first man and then created a companion for man. The man was supposed to care and provide for his wife, and they would live happily ever after. The Biblical worldview does not allow for married people to get separated as the union is holy. Also, from the Biblical View, God created man and woman so that they can procreate. Therefore, marriage is supposed to be between two people of different gender, and its purpose is compassion and procreation.

However, over the years, the original view of marriage has changed due to process philosophy. The united states government has allowed for the privatization of the marriage contract. Liberals argue that the people getting married are adults, and as such, they should be allowed to make decisions on the terms of their marriage (Brake, 2009). As a result, the United States government has allowed for same-sex marriages. These marriages are viewed as domestic partnerships between two individuals of the same gender.

The marriage of people of the same sex is prohibited in the Biblical Worldview of family and friendship. Another reason why the Biblical View is opposed to same-sex marriages is that they do not serve the purpose of procreation, which is a core reason people get married. But according to philosophers, the union of marriage should not be based on their ability to procreate. Therefore, to solve this, the need to privatize the legal framework in marriage is necessary. The legal framework needs to cater to married people, unmarried people, and divorced people. The government has had to remove restrictions regarding marriage and family.

In the education sector process philosophy has also led to changes in some policies. Higher education was available only to people from upper social classes. That was because most Americans worked in farms or factories; therefore, they did not need higher education. However, as the American economy expanded, the need for more people to occupy the managerial positions that were now available in various industries and firms grew (Hill, 1999). According to philosophers, like the Marxism view, people are born the same without any social class as such social class should not determine who should get higher education and who should not get it.

The government decided to give former military young men who were in the second world war a chance to study in top colleges in the states. By the year 1965, government officials saw the need to educate all the American people. The president signed a bill that allowed Americans from needy backgrounds to get federal grants. The law also permitted students to access students' loans to help them in their studies. As a result of the US government's assistance, every young person in the country could now access higher education regardless of their social class.

Conclusion

The American government and society are continuously experiencing changes. People are becoming more open to change as a result of process philosophy. The American people have moved past the Biblical View regarding marriage and family and adopted new views on marriage. The American people are ready to adopt methods that are more diverse and democratic. The American government has to keep up with the dynamic changes happening in modern society. For example, the government had to change its restrictions on marriage and education due to evolution in philosophy. The new way of thinking is more centered on improving the human race.

References

Brake, E. (2009, Jul 11). Marriage and Domestic Partnership. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/marriage/.

Hill, J. P. (1999). Relating Process Philosophy to the Classroom: an Exploration of Alfred North Whitehead's Educational Vision. (Publication No. 7088.) LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8087&context=gradschool_disstheses