New Books in Critical Theory Graham Harman, "The Graham Harman Reader" (Zero Books, 2023)
11 snips
Apr 18, 2023 AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Rejecting Both Kinds Of Reductionism
- Object-Oriented Ontology rejects both downward and upward reductionism as ways that 'kill' objects.
- Harman argues objects have an existence distinct from their parts and relations, restoring metaphysical depth.
Aesthetics As The Bridge To Objects
- Aesthetics serves as the bridge between withdrawn objects and our access to them through metaphor and non-literal language.
- Harman links indirect causation and metaphor: artistic form mediates how objects affect one another.
Objects Versus Their Qualities
- Harman emphasizes the difference between objects and their qualities, not merely the idea of withdrawal.
- He situates OOO within an Aristotelian lineage focused on objects distinct from their accidents.