Jeremy Smith, expert in Laruelle and non-humanism, discusses topics such as the concept of non-humanism and its relation to violence and information, the title and influences of their thesis, the concept of the on-demic and its relation to redefining humanity, the value of translation and sharing perspectives, the role of invention in emancipation, Laura Wells' work on superior racism and its connection to Nietzsche and biopolitical parallelism, the unsettling aspects of vitality and politics, reinvigorating discussions on non-philosophy, and the role of philosophy for non-philosophy.
Laruelle's Homo Ex Machina challenges the separation between humans and machines, asserting that both are subject to the same order and power structures.
Invention is a powerful tool to challenge existing power structures and create new possibilities for thought and emancipation.
Nonhumanism presents a more universal and adequate science for understanding humanity, emphasizing the indivisible reality of each individual.
Deep dives
The Bridge Between Philosophy and Non-Philosophy
Homo X Machina serves as a bridge between philosophy and non-philosophy, highlighting how the traditional approaches to philosophy, such as Cartesian dualism, reinforce a separation between humans and machines. It critiques the idea that humans are superior to machines, arguing that both are subject to the same order and power structures. This essay lays the foundation for understanding how non-philosophy offers a way to break free from the limitations of traditional philosophical frameworks. It prompts us to rethink our understanding of humanity, invention, and the emancipatory potential of non-philosophy.
Invention and its Significance
The essay highlights the importance of invention in challenging the prevailing power structures and constraints of traditional philosophy. Invention is not just about technological advancements, but about creating new possibilities for thought and emancipation. It urges us to question existing forms of subjectivity and to imagine ways of existing that go beyond the dominant frameworks. Invention becomes a means to reclaim agency and disrupt the ideologies that perpetuate domination and subordination.
Biopolitical Parallelism and the Vicious Circles of Hell
Lara Well exposes the notion of biopolitical parallelism, which refers to the inseparable relationship between power and life. It highlights how power structures, including philosophy, shape our everyday experiences, limiting our radical subjectivity. This parallelism traps humanity within vicious cycles, perpetuating systems of control and domination. Lara Well emphasizes the need to invent alternatives and break free from the mechanisms that bind us to these oppressive systems.
Superior Racism and Radical Subjectivity
The essay confronts the concept of superior racism, which refers to the pervasive ideologies and power structures that subordinate and oppress. Lara Well's challenge here is to reconceptualize subjectivity and embrace radical subjectivity that acknowledges and respects the imminence and agency of all individuals. By deconstructing the traditional notions of subjectivity, Lara Well opens up the possibilities for a new vision of humanity that breaks free from dominant ideologies and power structures.
The Superior Form of Racism and the Uber Machine
Larval draws inspiration from Nietzsche to discuss the concept of the superior form of racism, which involves constantly transvaluing and reaching a higher level of existence. This idea of the superior form extends to the notion of the uber machine or super machine, which highlights the experimentation of life over itself. Larval emphasizes that this superior form is not limited to everyday racism, but encompasses macro politics and the heinous forms of violence present in society. By internalizing racism and embracing bioengineering, this superior form aims to dissolve states and classes, creating a biopolitics of the future where everything is interconnected.
Nonhumanism, Democracy, and Emancipation
Larval introduces the concept of nonhumanism, which presents a more universal and adequate science for understanding humanity. Nonhumanism treats man as the cause of thought and emphasizes the indivisible reality of each individual. Through nonhumanism, Lara Well argues for a democracy of strangers, where people rule over thought and order the thought itself, rather than aiming for an equality of thoughts. This approach to democracy challenges the traditional notion of defining people philosophically and recognizes the radical individuality of each person. It seeks to emancipate humanity from the limitations and abstractions imposed by philosophical constraints.
Friend of the show, Jeremy Smith, joins us to discuss Laruelle, translations, non-humanism, and more on this week's edition of MUHH. We looked at Laruelle's Homo Ex Machina.
Jeremy's Links:
Blog:
https://endemictheory.wordpress.com/
London Critical Conference
http://londoncritical.org/
Unlearning Nihilism
http://unlearningnihilism.org/
Oraxiom: Journal of Non-Philosophy
http://oraxiom.org/
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/muhh
Twitter: @unconscioushh
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