While speculative realism, Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO), and new materialism share some philosophical concerns and overlaps, they are distinct movements with unique perspectives and emphases. Here’s a detailed comparison to clarify how they relate to one another and where they differ:
### Speculative Realism
#### Key Features:
- **Rejection of Correlationism**: Speculative realism challenges the idea that reality can only be understood in relation to human thought and perception. It posits the existence of a reality independent of human experience.
- **Diverse Approaches**: This movement includes various philosophers with different approaches, such as Quentin Meillassoux's speculative materialism, Ray Brassier's nihilistic realism, Iain Hamilton Grant's philosophical naturalism, and Graham Harman's Object-Oriented Ontology.
- **Emphasis on Realism**: It insists on the importance of returning to a form of realism that acknowledges the independent existence of the world.
#### Major Contributors:
- **Quentin Meillassoux**: Focuses on contingency and the idea that the laws of nature could change.
- **Ray Brassier**: Emphasizes a nihilistic approach, integrating scientific realism with philosophical inquiry.
- **Iain Hamilton Grant**: Draws from the tradition of Schelling and emphasizes the dynamic processes of nature.
- **Graham Harman**: Develops Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO), focusing on the autonomy and interaction of objects.
### Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO)
#### Key Features:
- **Autonomy of Objects**: OOO, primarily developed by Graham Harman, posits that objects (whether physical, conceptual, or otherwise) exist independently of their relations and interactions with other objects.
- **Withdrawal**: Objects have depths that withdraw from full comprehension or interaction, meaning that no interaction or relation can exhaust the full reality of an object.
- **Flat Ontology**: It promotes a flat ontology where all objects, whether human, non-human, or abstract, are considered equally real and significant.
#### Major Contributors:
- **Graham Harman**: Central figure in OOO, focusing on the metaphysical status of objects and their interactions.
- **Timothy Morton**: Known for his work on hyperobjects and ecological philosophy within the framework of OOO.
- **Levi Bryant**: Advocates for a variant of OOO called Onticology, emphasizing the role of objects in constructing reality.
### New Materialism
#### Key Features:
- **Material Agency**: New materialism emphasizes the agency and vitality of matter itself, arguing that matter is active and dynamic rather than passive and inert.
- **Posthumanist Orientation**: This movement often intersects with posthumanist themes, focusing on the entanglement of humans with non-human entities and the environment.
- **Interdisciplinarity**: New materialism draws from a wide range of disciplines, including feminist theory, science studies, and environmental humanities, to explore the interconnectedness of all forms of life and matter.
#### Major Contributors:
- **Karen Barad**: Known for her theory of agential realism, which integrates quantum physics and feminist theory to argue that matter and meaning are co-constituted through intra-actions.
- **Jane Bennett**: Author of "Vibrant Matter," which argues for the vitality and agency of non-human materials and objects.
- **Rosi Braidotti**: Works on posthuman theory, emphasizing the material and embodied aspects of human and non-human life.
### Common Ground
1. **Challenge to Anthropocentrism**:
- All three movements critique anthropocentrism and seek to de-center the human perspective in philosophical inquiry.
2. **Focus on Non-Human Agency**:
- Each emphasizes the significance and agency of non-human entities, whether they be objects (OOO), matter (new materialism), or broader aspects of reality (speculative realism).
3. **Realism**:
- They advocate for a form of realism that acknowledges the independent existence and agency of non-human entities.
### Key Differences
1. **Ontological Emphasis**:
- **Speculative Realism**: Broad focus on returning to realism and challenging correlationism.
- **OOO**: Specific focus on the autonomy and depth of objects, promoting a flat ontology.
- **New Materialism**: Emphasis on the vitality and agency of matter, often with a strong focus on ecological and feminist implications.
2. **Methodological Approaches**:
- **Speculative Realism**: Diverse methods ranging from metaphysical speculation to scientific realism.
- **OOO**: Metaphysical and phenomenological analysis of objects and their relations.
- **New Materialism**: Interdisciplinary, drawing from natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to explore material agency and entanglement.
3. **Philosophical Lineages**:
- **Speculative Realism**: Draws on a variety of philosophical traditions, including continental and analytic philosophy.
- **OOO**: Heavily influenced by phenomenology, especially Heidegger, and metaphysical realism.
- **New Materialism**: Influenced by feminist theory, poststructuralism, and science studies.
### Conclusion
While speculative realism, Object-Oriented Ontology, and new materialism share certain philosophical concerns and overlap in their critique of anthropocentrism and their emphasis on non-human agency, they are distinct movements with unique perspectives and methodologies. Each contributes to a
