A comparison of the contentions of the value of existence in the process aesthetic theory of the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and The Plague of Albert Camus.

This thesis compares the contentions of the value of existence in the process aesthetic theory of the metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead and The Plague of Albert Camus. One of the central tenets of the process aesthetic theory is that each experience contains aesthetic value. There are various levels of value achievement, depending on the choices of actual entities (the most basic units of reality). Beauty is the ideal value, and is the attainment of the aesthetic mean. Likewise, for Albert Camus, existence is valuable unto itself, and simply to live is to concede that existence is valuable. To rebel against that which negates that overarching value, moreover, indicates that this value is worth preserving. The thesis shows that one of the central tenets of the process aesthetic theory is that the extremes of existence lead to imbalances wherein suffering and evil arise. The Plague portrays these extremes. Both the extremes of monotony and chaos lead to suffering. For this reason, each actual entity strives to avoid the extremes to attain the aesthetic mean, or beauty, the ideal value. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Religious Studies. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1999 .R37. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 39-02, page: 0368. Adviser: Barry L. Whitney. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1998