The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast · Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

Ep. 384: Graham Harman's Object-Oriented Ontology (Part One)

·50 min·4 clips

Why did reading postmodern philosophy while studying physics leave one host feeling torn between two worlds?

This episode introduces Graham Harman's book "Object-Oriented Ontology: A New Theory of Everything," exploring what exists beyond scientific reductionism. Hosts Mark Linsenmayer and Seth Paskin, former philosophy students, examine Harman's attempt to bridge continental philosophy with a realist metaphysics. They note Harman's clear writing style and his background at St. John's College, which informs his approach. The discussion centers on Harman's critique of four assumptions he calls physicalism, smallism, anti-fictionalism, and literalism. He argues entities like the Dutch East India Company are real objects despite lacking fixed material components. Harman claims predictability does not negate emergent qualities in larger entities, using carbon compounds as an example. The hosts outline his distinction between "real objects" and "sensory objects," aligning with a Kantian view that we lack direct access to things-in-themselves. Chapter four posits real tables and chairs exist independently but are unknowable directly, while chapter two suggests art and metaphor provide indirect access. A surprising claim is that events, like a collision between airplanes, can be considered objects within this flat ontology. Harman extends objecthood to social entities, applying his framework to analyze the American Civil War as an object. The hosts find his rejection of causality intriguing, as he argues billiard balls as things-in-themselves cannot truly make contact. They note his avoidance of traditional solutions like appealing to God or consciousness, aiming for a secular account. Comparisons arise to John Searle's commonsense realism and Richard Rorty's view of science as literature, highlighting Harman's middle path. The tone is conversational and exploratory, with hosts dissecting dense philosophical concepts in an accessible, collegial manner. They adopt Harman's terminology of "real" versus "sensory" objects to structure their analysis. The style is educational but critical, as they question the utility of calling everything an object and note omissions like Schopenhauer's will. Listeners interested in metaphysics, continental philosophy, or critiques of scientism will appreciate this deep dive into a contemporary philosophical movement. Those seeking definitive answers or dismissive of speculative ontology might find the discussion too abstract or preliminary.

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