In this book, Graham Harman introduces and explores the concept of Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO), a branch of metaphysics that rejects the privileging of human existence over the existence of nonhuman objects. This philosophy contends that objects exist independently of human perception and have their own reality and agency. Harman argues against traditional scientific and philosophical views that only consider the usefulness of objects in relation to humans or that see objects merely as the sum of their parts and their effects on other things.
OOO promotes a democratic view of all objects, treating humans, animals, plants, and inanimate things as possessing equally profound depths of being and reality. Harman’s work challenges us to consider the rich inner lives and interactions of objects beyond their utility or their observable relations to other objects. This theory has implications across various fields, including art, architecture, and environmental ethics, suggesting new ways to relate to and understand the world around us.
Harman’s “Object-Oriented Ontology” is a foundational text for those interested in contemporary philosophy, metaphysics, and ecological thought, offering a fresh perspective on how everything in the universe—from the most mundane objects to complex human cultures—interacts and exists.
Several articles discuss Harman’s OOO and its implications across various fields, offering insights into his philosophical contributions and the broader discussion surrounding OOO:
- Harman discusses the basic ideas of his conception of object-oriented ontology, emphasizing its departure from traditional human-centric ontologies and its implications for understanding the universe’s structure (Harman & Pinho, 2020).
- The dialogue between object-oriented ontology and architecture explores how OOO’s principles can inform and transform architectural design and discourse, proposing new ways of conceptualizing relationships between space, objects, and human interaction (Weir & Harman, 2022).
- In exploring the ontology of social objects, OOO’s application to social theory is examined, highlighting how Harman’s theory provides a novel framework for understanding social entities beyond their material constituents or effects on others (Kleinherenbrink & Gusman, 2018).
- The critique and extension of Harman’s OOO through engagement with other philosophical traditions, such as Sartre’s theory of the practico-inert, further enrich the discussion around OOO’s capacity to address questions of time, object relations, and social theory (Kleinherenbrink, 2019).
Object-Oriented Ontology represents a significant shift in philosophical thought, challenging long-standing human-centric models and proposing a more democratic ontological framework that places all objects, regardless of their nature, on an equal footing. Harman’s work in OOO has sparked lively debates across disciplines, underscoring its potential to reshape our understanding of the world.
[Written and illustrated with the help of Scholar-GPT and Dall-E.]