Vol. 2 No. 2 (2021): Special Dossier - Constituent and destituent: powers, potencials and (des)instituting thought (jul/dec 2021)
Papers

What is the new materialism?

Christopher N. Gamble
University of Washington, Seattle, Estados Unidos da América
Bio
Joshua S. Hanan
University of Denver, Denver, Estados Unidos da América
Bio
Thomas Nail
University of Denver, Denver, Estados Unidos da América
Bio
Igor Campos Viana
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
Bio
Caio Hoffmann
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil
Bio

Published 2022-04-17

Keywords

  • new materialism,
  • performativity,
  • ancient materialism,
  • modern materialism,
  • failed materialism

How to Cite

GAMBLE, C. N.; HANAN, J. S.; NAIL, T.; VIANA, I. C.; HOFFMANN, C. What is the new materialism?. (Des)troços: revista de pensamento radical, Belo Horizonte, v. 2, n. 2, p. 188–219, 2022. DOI: 10.53981/destroos.v2i2.36348. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/revistadestrocos/article/view/36348. Acesso em: 3 jul. 2024.

Abstract

This paper argues that there is currently no single definition of new materialism but at least three distinct and partly incompatible trajectories. All three of these trajectories share at least one common theoretical commitment: to problematize the anthropocentric and constructivist orientations of most twentieth-century theory in a way that encourages closer attention to the sciences by the humanities. This paper emerges from our desire to offer a response to criticisms but not in order to defend new materialism in general. Instead, we hope to help redirect each arrow of critique toward its proper target, and on this basis to advocate for the approach we call “performative” or “pedetic” new materialism.

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