THE UNION OF OPPOSITES - FROM TAOISM TO PROCESS THEORY

This article is an attempt to incorporate Taoist wisdom into contempor ary process theory, and clinical and social philosophy. It highlights the coexistence of opposites (harmony and conflict, creation and decay , union and separation) in varying proportions, and the priority of di fferentiation over synthesis, and of creation over decay. Opposites ar e complementary, and complementaries are opposite, both synergic and a ntagonistic. Opposites coexist (dialectics) but separated (logic). Int eracting opposites co-create novelty, complexity and diversity. Life a nd culture emerge from the intercourse of opposites. Creation requires and fosters diversity. The oneness of nature is primary, but opposite s separate and differentiate as the universe expands. Bifurcation and differentiation have objective and logical priority over dialectic syn thesis and system formation. The current economic and cultural globali zation impoverishes life insofar as it suppresses diversity. As corpor ations replace empires as international powers, the separation of the economy and the state from each other is a desirable and possible choi ce. While learning from Eastern philosophy to seek personal and social Tao, process theory also features action, ethical commitment, and co- creation. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.