3 ms·

Without knowing anything about Tim Morton, other than what's in this article, I'm struggling to see what's novel here. It sounds like the exact same stuff that

by biofox 9y ago

Without knowing anything about Tim Morton, other than what's in this article, I'm struggling to see what's novel here. It sounds like the exact same stuff that came out of the environmental movement of the 60s. What am I missing?

VLM 9y ago
From a "Two Cultures" analysis the original 60s/70s stuff was discovered by Team Science, think of DDT and Carson and "Silent Spring". That all got co opted away from Team Science and run by Team Humanities which is in charge of propaganda, so as a kid I got to sit in school thru videos and coloring books about Condor birds with no thought beyond playground diplomacy of whos now cool (Condors, apparently) and whos now not cool anymore (Some chemical acronym with Ds and Ts). The new stuff is pure "Team Humanities" from the start, a compelling narrative untainted by science or logic, and it shows. From a distance they do look the same. Its like the difference between a good "Inspired by a true story" cable TV psuedo-documentary movie and a purely fictional movie.
- philipkglass 9y ago
  Morton's better stuff seems cribbed from Team Science. There's already a serviceable, perfectly-compatible-with-Team-Science philosophy that reminds humans that we are part of, made of, and embedded within nature: physicalism. I don't understand the appeal/utility/whatever of Morton's odd original contributions (hyperobjects, conscious boulders). It doesn't refute popular misconceptions of a nature-human gulf any better than plain physicalism. It's also not a very appealing basis for Team Humanities propaganda (as you style it) -- who's going to make a Hyperobjects Coloring Book? Morton's philosophy reminds me of those old herbal remedies that turned out to contain one active herb plus a bunch of superfluous materials and preparation rituals. There's a bit of something valuable in what he says but you can find it purer and simpler elsewhere. Of course even today some people deliberately seek out remedies made with a bunch of superfluous ritual and inactive ingredients, because they like complication for its own sake. Maybe that personality type forms the core of Morton's fans.

by biofox 9y ago

VLM 9y ago

From a "Two Cultures" analysis the original 60s/70s stuff was discovered by Team Science, think of DDT and Carson and "Silent Spring". That all got co opted away from Team Science and run by Team Humanities which is in charge of propaganda, so as a kid I got to sit in school thru videos and coloring books about Condor birds with no thought beyond playground diplomacy of whos now cool (Condors, apparently) and whos now not cool anymore (Some chemical acronym with Ds and Ts). The new stuff is pure "Team Humanities" from the start, a compelling narrative untainted by science or logic, and it shows. From a distance they do look the same. Its like the difference between a good "Inspired by a true story" cable TV psuedo-documentary movie and a purely fictional movie.

philipkglass 9y ago
Morton's better stuff seems cribbed from Team Science. There's already a serviceable, perfectly-compatible-with-Team-Science philosophy that reminds humans that we are part of, made of, and embedded within nature: physicalism. I don't understand the appeal/utility/whatever of Morton's odd original contributions (hyperobjects, conscious boulders). It doesn't refute popular misconceptions of a nature-human gulf any better than plain physicalism. It's also not a very appealing basis for Team Humanities propaganda (as you style it) -- who's going to make a Hyperobjects Coloring Book? Morton's philosophy reminds me of those old herbal remedies that turned out to contain one active herb plus a bunch of superfluous materials and preparation rituals. There's a bit of something valuable in what he says but you can find it purer and simpler elsewhere. Of course even today some people deliberately seek out remedies made with a bunch of superfluous ritual and inactive ingredients, because they like complication for its own sake. Maybe that personality type forms the core of Morton's fans.