"'Process-ontological Ethics of Transformation. Towards an Epistemology of Change in Nature, Environment, and Society', by Ivo Frankenreiter is a highly recommendable grand investigation into a topic that is central for the future of mankind. Facing the grand societal challenges of our time, like the climate catastrophe, the necessity of a grand socio-ecological transformation is evident. However, despite humanity's knowledge about anthropogenic climate change and the need for swift and profound action, a significant discrepancy exists regarding concrete action. This presents an irrefutable socio-ethical challenge that Ivo Frankenreiter addresses. His book Process-Ontological Ethics of Transformation offers a thorough examination of this timely and highly relevant topic and a concrete conceptual solution.

The starting point of his research is an in-depth analysis of the problem's context. Not only does this project provide a detailed description of the current state of climate action, but it also offers two sociological approaches to interpreting the problem. Drawing on the work of Ulrich Beck and Bruno Latour, Frankenreiter highlights the non-neutrality of dominant worldviews concerning environmental policy. Thus, assumptions that are taken for granted - like value-neutrality, definiteness, stability, and technological controllability of non-human nature - block sufficient and effective action. Consequently, tackling the grand societal challenges necessitates nothing less than changing the way we think in order to overcome the discrepancy between knowledge and action. But how is this possible? And what would an alternative mindset look like? For this, the book continues with an examination of the ontological deep layer.

Frankenreiter starts with a metaphysical deep dive into Whitehead's Process Ontology in search of an essential terminology and instruments to make sense of the underlying roots of this dissonance. Moreover, he aims at creating an alternative mindset related to non-human nature. His book offers the most profound and deep insights into Process Ontology, while being accessible to readers without any prior knowledge. The meta-physical deep dive ultimately culminates in a new, connected, relational, and processual mindset, overcoming the dualistic juxtaposition of humanity versus nature.

While critically reflecting and problematizing the Whiteheadian approach from a Catholic theological perspective, the author pleads for a constructive usage of it as a tool for overcoming thought blockades to create a more sustainable and just society.

This is why, after the metaphysical deep dive, he continues with an application of this approach to the environmental ethical debate. In dialogue with Laudato si' and the resilience discourse, he makes the process ontological instrumentarium feasible for Christian social ethics. Thus, within the interpretative context of Laudato si' and the Catholic tradition of harmonious tensions, he moves the process ontological theory not only into fruitful interaction, but toward applicability, and creates a new and innovative horizon for a sustainability mindset. Resilience functions as an ontological bridge category and catalyst for a paradigmatic mindset shift. Ultimately, he builds the main contribution of this book: process ontological transformation ethics.

In conclusion, Frankenreiter offers significant contributions to the research fields of Christian Social Ethics in particular and sustainability in general. I highly recommend the book for everyone interested in a better understanding of the underlying reasons for the divergence between society's knowledge about the climate catastrophe, its (potential) willingness to act, but its lack of action - or at least insufficient action in view of the urgency. It successfully presents an approach for a largely marginalized topic: the metaphysical underpinnings of an alternative worldview, compatible with the ecological catastrophe that we face. Within his book, Frankenreiter finds a solution for the epistemological challenge when facing the grand ecological crisis by embracing and navigating the necessary transformation through a shift in our mindset - a solution that is able to overcome the blockade. In his analysis, he creates essential transformational knowledge, especially on the mindset level, which functions as a bridge to overcome the gap between knowledge of the problem and reaching the goals of sustainability.

With his book, Frankenreiter succeeds in creating a foundation for a process-ontological ethics of transformation from a Christian socio-ethical perspective, providing an essential contribution to research and practice. With his approach, he broadens the horizon of the academic debate, not only in Christian social ethics but even more in the transdisciplinary endeavour of sustainable development. It would be wonderful if this approach could catalyse a much-needed academic debate about sustainability mindsets that go far beyond the theological realm. This book is an open invitation to all people of goodwill to reflect on necessary mindset shifts. A paradigmatic transformation of our way of thinking is essential for finding a pathway towards the necessary great transformation in sustainability. This element will be key to jointly creating a more sustainable world.

With thought-provoking and debate-triggering content, Ivo Frankenreiter's book provides an excellent starting point for this debate and future research endeavours."

"Konzentrierter kommt ein weiteres dickes Buch daher, in dem es um stattfindende und auch notwendige Veränderungen in Natur, Umwelt und Gesellschaft geht. Dies unter einem für Nichtfachleute fürchterlichen Titel: "Prozessontologische Transformationsethik". Was heisst das, was soll das? In der Einleitung dieser Dissertation, die als Band 36 der 'Beiträge zur Nachhaltigkeitsforschung' erschienen ist, werden die Wortmonster erklärt. Eine editorische Vorbemerkung betont, dass es zur Realisierung von dauerhaft wie global durchhaltbaren Lebens- und Wirtschaftsweisen wissenschaftliche Analysen und Konzepte "in weitem Umfang" brauche. Nicht nur naturwissenschaftliche oder technische, sondern auch geistes- und sozialwissenschaftliche Problemstellungen seien einzubeziehen, um Leitwerte zu überprüfen, neue Massstäbe für Fortschritt und Innovation zu finden.