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Feb 7, 2025 18 min

Materialism Is Not the Solution

from Synthetica: Synthesis on Design Hosted by Synthetic Synthesis

These sources explore Graham Harman's object-oriented philosophy, a critique of materialism that emphasizes the independent reality of objects. Harman argues that both reductionist and holistic materialism fail to account for the unique "form" of objects, which he contrasts with matter, function, and content. He proposes a new understanding of mimesis as performance, where the spectator actively participates in shaping the aesthetic experience, becoming the "real object" within the artwork. The texts further examine his critiques of prominent thinkers like Heidegger, McLuhan, and Greenberg, and his disagreements with Jane Bennett's approach to materialism. Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation. Harman, Graham. “Materialism Is Not the Solution.” The Nordic Journal of Aesthetics 24, no. 47 (January 26, 2016). https://doi.org/10.7146/nja.v24i47.23057. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit syntheticsynthesis.substack.com

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Materialism Is Not the Solution

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