New Materialism

Nomenclature of New Materialism

The term “New Materialism” is relatively recent, and its etymology can be understood by breaking down the two key components:

1. Materialism: Materialism is a philosophical stance that has been around for centuries. It generally refers to a worldview that emphasizes the primacy of the material or physical world over the spiritual or immaterial. Materialists argue that everything, including consciousness and thought, ultimately arises from physical matter. Historically, materialism has been associated with various philosophical traditions, including ancient materialism, dialectical materialism, and scientific materialism.
2. New: The addition of “New” in “New Materialism” signifies a departure from or a modification of traditional or classical forms of materialism. It implies a fresh approach or a reevaluation of materialist ideas, often in response to contemporary philosophical, scientific, and cultural developments.

The “New Materialism” movement emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a response to changes in philosophy, science, and society. It represents a departure from some of the reductionist and deterministic aspects of earlier materialist philosophies and incorporates insights from fields such as feminist theory, ecological philosophy, posthumanism, and science studies.

Definition of New Materialism

New Materialism is a contemporary philosophical and theoretical framework that challenges traditional dualistic views that separate the material world from the realm of ideas, consciousness, and human agency. Instead, it posits that matter and material entities have their own agency, significance, and vitality, which influence human existence, culture, and thought. New Materialism is a multidisciplinary field that draws from philosophy, science studies, feminism, environmentalism, and various other disciplines to explore the dynamic and interconnected nature of the material world.

New Materialism: Origin, Theorists, Works and Arguments

Origin

New Materialism is a philosophical and theoretical movement that gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It emerged in response to shifts in philosophical thought, science, and cultural studies. While it draws on the legacy of materialist philosophy, it represents a fresh approach that challenges traditional dualistic views and incorporates insights from feminist theory, ecological philosophy, posthumanism, and science studies.

Prominent Theorists

Several theorists have played significant roles in the development and articulation of New Materialism:

1. Karen Barad: Known for her work on agential realism, Barad explores the interconnectedness of matter and discourse, emphasizing the role of materiality in shaping knowledge and reality.
2. Jane Bennett: Bennett’s “Vibrant Matter” is a seminal work in New Materialism, highlighting the agency and vitality of non-human entities and advocating for an ethics of care toward the material world.
3. Rosi Braidotti: Braidotti’s work on the posthuman and the nomadic subject contributes to the discussion on the blurring boundaries between the human and non-human.
4. Manuel DeLanda: DeLanda’s work draws from Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy and provides a perspective on materialism that emphasizes the complexity and emergence of material entities.
5. Elizabeth Grosz: Grosz’s writings explore the intersections of feminism and New Materialism, particularly in the context of embodiment and sexuality.

Key Works: Some key works associated with New Materialism include:

1. Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things by Jane Bennett: This book explores the agency and vitality of non-human entities, arguing for a more inclusive ethics that considers the material world.
2. Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning by Karen Barad: Barad’s work introduces the concept of agential realism and explores how matter and meaning are entangled.
3. The Posthuman by Rosi Braidotti: Braidotti discusses the concept of the posthuman and the challenges it poses to traditional human-centered thinking.
4. A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari: While not a New Materialist work per se, it has influenced New Materialist thought with its ideas on multiplicity, assemblages, and non-human agency.

Key Arguments: New Materialism advances several key arguments, including:

1. Material Agency: It argues for the agency and vitality of material entities, challenging the anthropocentric view that only humans possess agency.
2. Entanglement: New Materialism emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of humans and non-human entities, advocating for a relational ontology.
3. Ethics of Care: It calls for an ethics that extends beyond human concerns to include ethical considerations for the environment, animals, and other non-human entities.
4. Posthumanism: New Materialism blurs the boundaries between the human and non-human, encouraging a reevaluation of human exceptionalism.
5. Embodiment: It explores the role of materiality in shaping human embodiment, perception, and subjectivity.

Principles of New Materialism

Principle	Explanation	Example
Posthumanism	Challenges anthropocentrism and highlights the agency of non-human entities.	Example: Viewing ecosystems as active agents in shaping their own development rather than as passive resources for human use.
Non-Anthropocentrism	Rejects human-centric perspectives and values the agency of non-human entities.	Example: Recognizing the intrinsic value of ecosystems for their biodiversity and resilience rather than solely for their utility to human societies.
Material Agency	Acknowledges that matter can exert influence and challenges human-exclusive agency.	Example: Rocks eroding over time, shaping landscapes, and impacting ecosystems, showcasing the agency of non-human matter.
Entanglement	Emphasizes interconnectedness and mutual constitution of human and non-human entities.	Example: Understanding that human actions, like deforestation, can have direct impacts on the climate, emphasizing the interdependence of humans and the environment.
Post-Dualism	Challenges binary thinking and encourages a holistic perspective.	Example: Rejecting the mind-body dualism in medical practice and instead recognizing the interconnectedness of mental and physical well-being.
Vital Materialism	Acknowledges the liveliness and dynamism of matter.	Example: Viewing soil as a dynamic living system teeming with microorganisms and nutrients, essential for ecosystem health.
Ethics and Ecology	Promotes ethical responsibility toward the non-human world and ecological awareness.	Example: Advocating for conservation efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats, recognizing ethical obligations to the environment.
Poststructuralism	Deconstructs hierarchical and binary thinking to understand complex relationships.	Example: Analyzing how language and discourse shape our perception of nature, revealing how power dynamics influence environmental policies.
Affect and Emotion	Considers the role of emotions in human-non-human interactions.	Example: Recognizing the grief and emotional connection people feel towards endangered animals, which motivates conservation efforts.
New Epistemologies	Advocates for alternative ways of knowing beyond traditional human-centric paradigms.	Example: Incorporating indigenous knowledge systems and practices to better understand and manage ecosystems, enriching our understanding of the natural world.

Suggested Readings

1. Bennett, Jane. Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. Duke University Press, 2010.
2. Coole, Diana, and Samantha Frost. New Materialisms: Ontology, Agency, and Politics. Duke University Press, 2010.
3. Dolphijn, Rick, and Iris van der Tuin. New Materialism: Interviews and Cartographies. Open Humanities Press, 2012.
4. Grosz, Elizabeth. The Incorporeal: Ontology, Ethics, and the Limits of Materialism. Columbia University Press, 2017.
5. Haraway, Donna J. Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. Duke University Press, 2016.
6. Barad, Karen. Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning. Duke University Press, 2007.
7. Kirksey, Eben, and Stefan Helmreich, editors. The Emergence of Multispecies Ethnography. Cultural Anthropology, Vol. 25, No. 4, 2010, pp. 545-576.
8. Parikka, Jussi. A Geology of Media. University of Minnesota Press, 2015.
9. Tsing, Anna Lowenhaupt. The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins. Princeton University Press, 2015.
10. Yusoff, Kathryn. A Billion Black Anthropocenes or None. University of Minnesota Press, 2018.