Many contemporary philosophers and theorists are actively working in areas that build upon or diverge from poststructuralist themes, often creating new frameworks to address current global issues. Here are some notable figures:
1. New Materialism and Posthumanism
• Rosi Braidotti: Known for her work on posthumanism and new materialism, Braidotti explores themes like the posthuman subject, nomadic subjectivity, and the ethical implications of non-human agency.
• Jane Bennett: In her book Vibrant Matter, Bennett advocates for a “vital materialism” that sees matter as active and capable of agency, influencing fields like ecology, ethics, and political theory.
2. Speculative Realism and Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO)
• Quentin Meillassoux: A central figure in speculative realism, Meillassoux challenges the Kantian tradition by proposing that knowledge of the world exists independently of human perception, as he argues in After Finitude.
• Graham Harman: Founder of Object-Oriented Ontology, Harman explores how all objects, human and non-human, have their own unique realities and interact on an ontologically flat plane.
• Timothy Morton: Known for his work on ecology and “hyperobjects” (things so vast in scale that they defy human perception), Morton advocates for an ecological philosophy that moves beyond anthropocentrism.
3. Affect Theory and Embodiment
• Brian Massumi: Building on Deleuze, Massumi’s work on affect theory emphasizes the importance of non-cognitive, embodied experiences and how they shape individual and collective actions.
• Sara Ahmed: Known for her work on emotions, Ahmed explores how affect shapes social structures, identity, and political movements, especially in the context of gender and race.
4. Decolonial Thought and Critical Race Theory
• Walter Mignolo: A leading figure in decolonial theory, Mignolo critiques the Eurocentric foundations of modernity and proposes a decolonial approach to knowledge and subjectivity.
• Sylvia Wynter: Her work investigates how colonialism and the racialization of human identity have structured modern knowledge and power, calling for a rethinking of what it means to be human.
• Achille Mbembe: Known for his concept of “necropolitics,” Mbembe examines how power operates over life and death, particularly in post-colonial and racial contexts.
5. Accelerationism and Neo-Rationalism
• Nick Srnicek: Co-author of Inventing the Future, Srnicek promotes “left accelerationism,” which sees technology and automation as tools for overcoming capitalism and creating post-capitalist futures.
• Reza Negarestani: An advocate of “neo-rationalism,” Negarestani argues for a rationalist philosophy that incorporates complex systems and speculative thinking to address contemporary crises.
6. Environmental and Ecological Thought
• Bruno Latour: Known for his actor-network theory and critique of modernity, Latour addresses ecological and environmental issues, arguing for a “parliament of things” where non-human agents have representation.
• Dipesh Chakrabarty: In his work on the Anthropocene, Chakrabarty explores the ethical and political implications of climate change, challenging traditional distinctions between human history and natural history.
7. Digital and Media Theory
• Bernard Stiegler: Known for his work on technology and digital media, Stiegler argues that technological changes reshape human perception, memory, and social structures, with deep consequences for culture and politics.
• Luciana Parisi: Her work investigates the philosophical implications of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and computation, questioning how digital technology influences knowledge and autonomy.
8. Biopolitics and Neo-Vitalism
• Roberto Esposito: In his work on biopolitics, Esposito examines how concepts of life and death are governed by modern political structures, influencing medical ethics, security, and rights.
• Elizabeth Grosz: Known for her work on corporeality and neo-vitalism, Grosz explores how bodies, desire, and life forces intersect with philosophy, challenging dualistic thinking.
9. Continental Realism and Revitalized Existentialism
• Alain Badiou: Although not a speculative realist, Badiou’s work on ontology and mathematics pushes beyond poststructuralist ideas, positing that truth emerges from events that break with existing structures.
• Francois Laruelle: Founder of “non-philosophy,” Laruelle challenges traditional philosophical methods by proposing a radically egalitarian approach that treats all knowledge systems as equally valid.
10. Neo-Deleuzian and Neo-Nietzschean Thought
• Manu Bazzano: Building on Deleuzian and Nietzschean ideas, Bazzano explores existentialism and psychotherapeutic philosophy, advocating for an ethics of radical acceptance and open-ended becoming.
• Claire Colebrook: Known for her work on Deleuze and feminist philosophy, Colebrook explores themes of extinction, humanity, and the Anthropocene, questioning the assumptions of human centrality in philosophy.
These thinkers extend poststructuralist insights into new realms, engaging with ecological crises, digital transformation, colonial legacies, and biopolitical structures. They are shaping what comes “after” poststructuralism, developing philosophies attuned to the complexities and crises of our contemporary world.
