It's a very nice review (get it here), not dissimilar to mine (which will take a while to appear in print, in Theory, Culture and Society). Interestingly Graham includes quite a lot more detail than mine, on the later chapters, while mine looks slightly more broadly at the first two. Our conclusions are naturally much the same.
The takeaway line: we are entering a new age of metaphysics. That and the potato chips...
I too enjoyed Bennett very much; the deft and sure touch was particularly appreciated, and her ability, as Harman says, to "spin...philosophical gold out of everyday wool".
I agree with Bennett; the elan vital has shades of 'there but for the grace of God go I' (I will never know the reason I am me and not the clay that makes up my coffee mug), but given this, it behooves us to never assume the transcendent position over and above other things.
Harman's contrast of Bennett with OOO is interesting and one worth consideration; do I in fact share anything with the 'thing-in-itself-coffe mug'? I suspect I do, but I could be mis-interpreting OOO.
Interesting review of Bennett by Harman.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed Bennett very much; the deft and sure touch was particularly appreciated, and her ability, as Harman says, to "spin...philosophical gold out of everyday wool".
I agree with Bennett; the elan vital has shades of 'there but for the grace of God go I' (I will never know the reason I am me and not the clay that makes up my coffee mug), but given this, it behooves us to never assume the transcendent position over and above other things.
Harman's contrast of Bennett with OOO is interesting and one worth consideration; do I in fact share anything with the 'thing-in-itself-coffe mug'? I suspect I do, but I could be mis-interpreting OOO.