About the Society for the Study of Process Philosophy (SSPP)

Founded in 1966, the Society for the Study of Process Philosophy (SSPP) is one of the earliest satellite organizations of the American Philosophical Association (APA). Dedicated to exploring and advancing process-oriented thought, SSPP has served as a key forum for scholars interested in process philosophy and its intersections with metaphysics, ethics, religion, science, and social thought.

In the 1970s, SSPP expanded its reach by establishing an annual session in conjunction with the Metaphysical Society of America, coordinated by Robert Neville at Boston University. Around the same time, it began holding sessions at the APA Central Division, coordinated by Bill Hamrick. A fourth annual session was added in the late 1970s in conjunction with the APA Pacific Division, coordinated by George Lucas.

Over the years, SSPP’s coordination structure evolved. While Merle Allshouse, one of the original founders, stepped away from the Society soon after its inception, George Allan served as the overall coordinator until 1988. He was succeeded by Joe Grange, who served until 1998. Jude Jones then led the Society as overall coordinator until 2016.

Since 2017, Jea Sophia Oh has taken on the role of overall coordinator, guiding SSPP’s presence across all three divisions of the APA. Under her leadership, the Society has maintained a consistent and robust presence, presenting over 100 scholarly papers in the past seven years. This ongoing intellectual engagement affirms SSPP’s enduring commitment to advancing process philosophy in dialogue with contemporary philosophical and interdisciplinary concerns.

American Philosophical Association