Theory of the Object
- Tells the first history of Western science and technology focused on the agency and mobility of objects
- Argues that objects are metastable processes, not discrete things, unlike other theories that consider objects as passive and static
- Surveys many areas of contemporary thought including new materialism and speculative realism as well as quantum theory, category theory and chaos theory
Throughout the history of science and technology, objects have been understood in many ways but rarely have they been understood to play an active role in the production of knowledge. This has led to largely anthropocentric theories and histories of science, which treat nature as passive objects viewed by independent observers.
Thomas Nail approaches the theory of objects historically in order to tell a completely new story in which objects themselves are the true agents of scientific knowledge. They are processes, not things. It is the first history of science and technology, from prehistory to the present, to illuminate the agency, knowledge and mobility of objects.
Introduction: A World of Objects
Part I: The Kinetic Object
1. The Flow of Matter
2. The Fold of Number
3. The Field of Knowledge
Part II: A History of Objects
I. The Ordinal Object
4. The Centripetal Object
5. The Prehistoric Object
II. The Cardinal Object
6. The Centrifugal Object
7. The Ancient Object I
8. The Ancient Object II
III. The Intensive Object
9. The Tensional Object
10. The Medieval Object I
11. The Medieval Object II
IV. The Potential Object
12. The Elastic Object
13. The Modern Object I
14. The Modern Object II
Part III: The Contemporary Object
The Loop Object
15. The Pedetic Object
16. The Contemporary Object I: Quantum Theory
17. The Contemporary Object II: Category Theory
18. The Contemporary Object III: Chaos Theory
Conclusion
Index
Nail's view of the object can be characterized as "change is the only constant" (to quote those who have gone before). Nail (Univ. of Denver) sets out to convince readers that reality is not a stable essentialist subject/object dichotomy but rather a materialist process of kinetic historical progression. (...) That said, Nail's writing style is generally approachable, so even readers not drawn to academic philosophy of science might find this an interesting read.
This book can act as a bridge that will create understanding between a wide variety of scientific practice, as all of us can connect to the material processes Nail describes. Something that, admittedly, most of the research I engage and compare his writing to, will not.
This book can act as a bridge that will create understanding between a wide variety of scientific practice, as all of us can connect to the material processes Nail describes. Something that, admittedly, most of the research I engage and compare his writing to, will not.
Nail’s inter-disciplinary command skilfully navigates debates about the nature of reality across the humanities, mathematics and the sciences. We learn that objects are indeterminate, and objectivity, observation and even anthropocentrism are not what they seem. By destabilizing foundations Nail’s kinesis and process history provokes fascinating quandaries and speculative possibilities.
