Notes: Graham Harman, Non-Relational Aesthetics, CMU Oct 23 2012 !

"AR#U$ %A&'M# on OC(O)'R 23, 2012 in *H#+O$O*H,,(RAN$CR#*( Hi- (his .ost contains m! notes /rom Graham Harman0s tal1 on non-relational aesthetics 2i3en at the Colle2e o/ 4ine Arts at Carne2ie Mellon Uni3ersit! in *itts 5r2h, *A on Oct 23, 2012(his is m! attem.t at somethin2 a..roachin2 a transcri.t- #t0s not al6a!s 3er atim, 5t 6here # con7ense7 .hrases or s1i..e7 sentences # 7i7 m! est to .reser3e 6hat Harman 6as act5all! sa!in2- An! mista1es an7 misinter.retations are m! o6n8 M! 9sometimes /li..ant: commentar! ;is in s<5are rac1ets=# starte7 ta1in2 notes a co5.le min5tes in- He /irst starte7 ! reass5rin2 the a57ience that his tal1, Non-Relational Aesthetics: An O >ect-Oriente7 +oo1 at Contem.orar! Art 6as not act5all! a 7i2 on the conce.t o/ relational aesthetics as it0s 1no6n in the art 6orl7(o7a! #0m 2oin2 to tal1 a o5t nonrelationalit!- ?h! that@ #sn0t e3er!thin2 connecte7@ No- $ome thin2s are connecte7, 5t it ta1es 6or1 to connect them?hen # sa6 the scariest lect5re o/ m! li/e ! Aames +o3eloc1 three !ears a2o, tal1in2 a o5t ho6 there 6ill onl! e 1 illion .eo.le in 2100 75e to 2lo al 6armin2, it 6as clear that not e3er!thin2 is connecte7- A5st a han7/5l o/ 3er! im.ortant thin2s are connecte7- (he comm5nit! o/ climate scientists ha7 to 7o 6or1 to sho6 6hich /actors 6ere connecte7- Holism can e a laB! 2est5re- (hin2s are to some eCtent s.lit o// ! /ire6alls /rom one another- Relationalit! has ecome a i2 5BB6or7 in .hiloso.h! an7 else6here, an7 #0m tal1in2 a o5t alternati3es to itHei7e22er is an intimi7atin2 /i25re, 5t is reall! as sim.le as the .re-$ocratic .hiloso.hers- He comes /rom H5sserl0s .henomenolo2!- H5sserl is 7e/initel! not a realist- He 7oes not thin1 there0s a real 6orl7 o5tsi7e o/ o5r thin1in2 o/ it'3er!thin2 is the correlate o/ a mental act or a .ossi le mental act- Hei7e22er0s asic rea1thro52h is that it0s 6ron2- ?e 7on0t enco5nter thin2s as .resent in conscio5sness- H5sserl 6as tr!in2 to sto. the onsla52ht o/ eC.erimental .s!ch on

.hiloso.h!- ,o5 can0t tal1 a o5t so5n7 6a3es 6hen a 7oor slams, !o5 ha3e to 7escri e the min5te 7i//erences in !o5r conscio5sness 6hen the 7oor slams- )5t Hei7e22er sa!s a lot o/ thin2s aren0t .resent in conscio5sness- ,o5 6eren0t thin1in2 o/ the air in the room 5ntil # >5st mentione7 it, 5t !o5 6eren0t a6are o/ it 5ntil # sai7 it >5st no6(he 3ast ma>orit! o/ thin2s 6e rel! on 6ith7ra6 /rom 5s- 4or Hei7e22er there0s a 7ee. la!er o/ e<5i.ment 6e rel! on silentl! to eCist- #t0s onl! in the case o/ mal/5nction that 6e notice these thin2s 9.oll5te7 air ma1es !o5 co52h:- ?hat is 7ee.er than .resence is the <5estion o/ ein2 /or Hei7e22er Hei7e22er is a it 7ee.er than .eo.le thin1 he is- (ool anal!sis is o/ten rea7 as .ra2matism: that .ractice comes /irst- (he .ro lem is that o5r .ractical actions 7istort an7 o3ersim.li/! thin2s as m5ch as theor! an7 conscio5sness 7o- ;$ee *oN on a straction-= ?hen !o50re 5sin2 a hammer !o50re not eCha5stin2 it- (ool anal!sis is not a o5t 5tilit!, it0s a o5t 6hat can rea1, 6hich can e the thin2s that aren0t rele3ant to its 5tilit! 5ntil the! rea1#n or7er /or there to e a .rinci.le o/ 7!namism an7 5ncertaint! there nee7s to e somethin2 eneath relationismAn! h5man or animal interaction 6ith thin2s 6ill translate those thin2s- (r5th is onl! somethin2 that can e a..roache7, not re3eale7, 6hich is not tren7! relati3ism 5t rather sim.le *lato on 6is7om)5t not >5st h5mansDanimals- O >ects also translate other o >ects- ?hen /ire 5rns cotton, /ire 7oesn0t eCha5st all the .ro.erties o/ cotton ;ah hereEs the *oN a straction st5//=- ?hat0s 2oin2 on is a 75alit! et6een o >ects an7 relations- An! relation 6ill o3ersim.li/! the o >ects that are in the relation-- (he relation 7istorts the terms that are a .art o/ it- Hei7e22er is the most nonrelational thin1er eca5se he0s tal1in2 a o5t the ein2 o/ thin2s o5tsi7e o/ his relations- As #03e alrea7! mentione7 o 3io5sl! thin2s relate- (here0s een a mis5n7erstan7in2 .eo.le ha3e a o5t OOO 6here the! thin1 that in OOO, thin2s 7on0t relate- )5t o 3io5sl! the! 7o8 )5t !o5 ha3e to come 5. 6ith a 6a! to eC.lain HO? the! relate- *hiloso.h! is a o5t ma1in2 thin2s .ro lematic that seem li1e common sense- A5st eca5se 6e 1no6 thin2s relate, it0s hel./5l to thin1 a o5t ho6 the! mi2ht act5all! "O thatOccasionalism /rom #slamic thin1ers"i7n0t hit '5ro.e 5ntil "escartes- Min7D o7! nee7 Go7 as a me7iator- He 7i7n0t

seem to see the o7!D o7! .ro lems li1e the ara s 7i7, 5t Male ranch 7i7- +ater ?estern .hiloso.h! ma7e the same mo3e, 5t not 6ith Go7, 5t 6ith the h5man min7- (he .ro lem 6ith Go7 is not that it 7oes not eCist an7 6e0re all atheists ! necessit!, 5t the .ro lem is that it0s one s.ecial ma2ical thin2 that 7oes all the 6or1- #t0s the same 6ith H5me, 6ho .5ts the h5man min7 as the thin2 that ma1es ca5se an7 e//ect- 4or %ant it0s cate2ories in the h5man min7 that ma1es ca5seDe//ect ha..en- Occasionalism is the 3er! root o/ mo7ern .hiloso.h!# thin1 +ato5r is the most im.ortant .hiloso.her li3in2 to7a!- Most .eo.le 7on0t thin1 that- +ato5r re>ects 6hitehea70s occasionalism 6here thin2s .ass thro52h 2o7 as relations- +ato5r sa!s e3er! relation nee7s a local me7iator- Aoliot lin1in2 .olitics an7 ne5trons- Cha76ic1 7isco3ere7 ne5trons, then less than a 7eca7e ne5trons an7 n5clear .h!sics 6ere connecte7, an7 Aoliot as1e7 the 2o3ernment to /5n7 ne5tron research- (he .ro lem 6ith + is that i/ Aoliot connects .olitics an7 ne5trons, ho6 7oes >oliot to5ch .olitics an7 ho6 7oes a ne5tron to5ch Aoliot@ + 7isa..ointin2l! sa!s sto. 6hen !o5 2et ore7 eca5se it0s a .ractical metho7O >ects ha3e internal relations an7 eCternal relations- Most relations are eCternal relations an7 thin2s are c5t o// /rom the 3ast ma>orit! o/ their relations- Another i7ea: "elan7a thin1s o/ it as 2enetic memor!- A thin2 .reser3es its entire histor!- # 7isa2ree, thin2s .reser3e some o/ their histor! 5t not the entire histor!, it0s ar itrar!- ,o5 can0t i2nore the /act there are /ire6alls, there0s /or2ettin2, there0s o t5seness#03e tal1in2 a o5t ho6 there0s a 75alit! et6een the hi77en o >ect an7 the 3isi le <5alities in Hei7e22er 'arth an7 $1!- 'arth is that 7ee.er than all relation, $1! is 6hat is 3isi le to 5s, an7 art is the tension et6een 6orl7 an7 s1!- 'arth /or him ten7s to e a 5ni/ie7 thin2- (he hi77en 6orl7 is a i2 l5m.- (here0s no isolate7 tools, all tool re/er to each other at their hi77en le3el o/ ein2- (he .ro lem 6ith that is that i/ it 6ere tr5e, nothin2 6o5l7 rea1: e3er!thin2 6o5l7 s5..ort e3er!thin2 else- Hei7e22er sho5l7n0t ha3e a 5ni/ie7 l5m. 5n7erneath the 3isi le 6orl7- Hei7e22er 6as a nonrelational .hiloso.her 5t /elt li1e .l5ralit! 6as onl! on the s5r/aceF he sho5l7 ha3e em race7 the .l5ralit! o/ thin2s on the le3el o/ ein28 +e3inas sa!s the h5man min7 rea1s thin2s into .ieces ar itraril!- )5t it0s ar itrar!, an7 6hat ma1es the h5man min7 s.ecial eno52h that it can 7o that@ (he h5man min7 is .art o/ the 6orl7@

+et0s tal1 a o5t Mc+5han no6- He0s one o/ those serio5s 6riters that .eo.le 7on0t see as serio5s- (he! see him as tren7! an7 /ri3olo5s- # see Mc+5han as one o/ the more im.ortant a5thors in the h5manities in the 20th cent5r!- He0s similar to Hei7e22er in that he sa!s that the 2ro5n7 9 ac12ro5n7: is e3er!thin2 an7 the /i25re 9/ore2ro5n7: is nothin2- ?e sho5l7 tal1 a o5t the 6a! the str5ct5re o/ tele3ision itsel/ a//ects o5r conscio5sness, not the content8 )oth Hei7e22er an7 Mc+5han are en2a2e7 in tri5m.halism o/ the 7e.th- (he s5r/ace is s5.er/icial- )5t then the! en7 5. o3erl! 7e.en7ent on content8 4or Hei7e22er, i/ 2 o >ects are so 6ith7ra6n the! can0t interact then the! onl! interact on the s5r/ace o/ each other- Harman thin1s that Hei7e22er thin1s that onl! ima2es en7 5. interactin2 ;# 7onEt 5! this is 6hat Hei7e22er tho52ht=- (he s5r/ace en7s 5. an im.ortant 6a! /or 7e.th to re3eal itsel/- 4or Mc+5han the me7i5m can ne3er chan2e ! itsel/- (he me7i5m is so 7ee. it can0t chan2e itsel/?hat chan2es a 7ominant me7i5m to another@ 4or Mc+5han it ha..ens in >5m.s li1e a .ara7i2m shi/t- (he onl! 6a! this ha..ens is thro52h re3ersal an7 retrie3alRe3ersal is 6hat ha..ens 6hen a me7i5m ecomes too sat5rate7- Cars start o5t as a me7i5m /or s.ee7De//icienc!- O3er time the! ecome the 3er! o..osite o/ s.ee7De//icienc!- )5t it0s not eca5se o/ cars as a me7i5m 5t eca5se o/ acci7ental s5.er/icial as.ects o/ the car: .oll5tion, 5l1DsiBe, tra//ic- Ma! e one 7a! the!0ll e re.lace7 6ith com.5ter controlle7 ma2netic monorails-;ha= Retrie3al is 6hen a 7ea7 me7i5m comes ac1 to li/e- ,o5 can thin1 o/ eCam.les li1e the C" retrie3in2 the 7isc sha.e /rom +*s- 9$ee the Onion article on the la3a lam., it0s reall! /5nn!-: Re3ersal an7 retrie3al oth ha..en at the s5r/aceG the!0re shallo6- Historical chan2e ha..ens at the le3el o/ the s5r/ace- #t0s com.letel! 6ron2 to sa! that Mc+5han is a historical 7eterminist- He 2i3es lots o/ cre7it to h5man choice- He 2i3es artists .o6er: the!0re the ones 6ho re3i3e cliches, an7 retrie3eDre3erse- (he!0re the ones 6ho ca5se ne6 me7ia to 7ominateAnother theorist la57s the 7e.ths an7 7es.ises s5r/ace- Green er2- 4or a lon2 time !o5 co5l7n0t tal1 a o5t him in art circles, 5t no6 !o5 can, 6ith reser3ationsGreen er2 thin1s the me7i5m is more im.ortant than the content- 4or .aintin2 it0s the /lat can3as 6hich is 6h! thin1s .aintin2s sho5l7 re/lect that /latness- He ri7ic5les content- He 7e/ines aca7emic art: art that ta1es its me7i5m /or 2rante7$o5n7s li1e Mc+5han Hei7e22er Art that ta1es the 3er! artistic means it0s 5sin2 as a 2i3en- Art sho5l7 e re/lectin2 the con7itions o/ its me7i5m, 6hich is 6h! he li1es c5 ism in .aintin2Aca7emic arts- (he most o 3io5s 1in7 o/ aca7emic art that he0s com.lainin2

a o5t is anal t!.ical three 7imensional ill5sionistic oil .aintin2- Another 1in7 he calls aca7emic art 9reall! a catchall /or art # 7on0t li1e:: s5rrealism- His .ro lem 6ith it is that it0s 5sin2 the ol7 tric1s an7 >5st .aintin2 craB! content- "oesn0t ta1e "ali serio5s at all, thir7 rate shoc1 artist- Another 1in7 o/ s5..ose7 aca7emic art: "5cham.- "5cham. seems to e tr!in2 to OH'R(URN the me7i5m so it0s a har7er case- Green er20s case is that "5cham. trie7 to 7o a3ant-2ar7e art an7 co5l7n0t c5t it an7 mis5n7erstoo7 a3ant-2ar7e art since Manet- Art since Manet 6as shoc1in2 to .eo.le 5t that 6as secon7ar!, 5t "5cham. sa6 it as .rimar! so that0s 6h! he0s an aca7emic artist to Green er2(here0s a .ro lem 6ith 6hat he sa!s a o5t "ali- Green er2 a7mits that "ali 7i7 his st5// on .5r.ose- $o he0s not reall! ta1in2 it /or 2rante7- #t0s li1e an eC.eriment 6ith a control - Usin2 the ol7 metho7s a control so he co5l7 /oc5s o5r attention on the no3elties o/ the content- #t 6o5l7 e con/5sin2 to inno3ate in oth .laces, 6hich is 6hat +ato5r sa!s in Aramis: 7on0t inno3ate in more than one .lace(he c5 ists al6a!s .aint 3er! sim.le o >ects- (hin1 o/ ho6 con/5sin2 it 6o5l7 e i/ the! .ainte7 com.leC scenes in a c5 ist st!le8 #n /act Green er2 .5ts 7a7a an7 s5rrealism in the cate2or! o/ aca7emic art 6hich is too roa7 to e 5se/5l- #n a sense 7a7a is the .olar o..osite o/ s5rrealismGreen er2 also tal1s a o5t the .ro3incial artist- 1: an o5tmo7e7 st!le /ar /rom the 5r an center- A loser 6ho0s ehin7 the times8 4eel .it!8 2: An a3ant-2ar7e artist 6ho is sel/ conscio5sl! a3ant 2ar7e 5t mis5n7erstan7s 6hat it0s all a o5t%an7ins1! is the 25! he .ic1s on most o/ all- 4or Green er2, a straction is secon7ar! to /latness, 6hereas it 6as .rimar! /or %an7ins1!- #n the /irst .ro3incial case, that #$ CeBanne- #n G0s rea7in2, CeBanne 6as mo3e7 ! the im.ressionists 5t 6ante7 to chan2e some thin2s to a77 more 7e.th- )5t this /li..e7 into the o..osite, lots o/ /latness- (o Green er2, all 20th cent5r! artists are chasin2 a/ter CeBanne- 4or Green er2, CeBanne 6as onl! 2reat late in his career*eo.le 6ho came in a/ter him li1e *icasso 6ere a le to stan7 on his sho5l7ers an7 inno3ate <5ic1l!4or G: c5 ism 2oo7- $5rrealism a7- A stract eC.ressionism 2oo78 Neo7a7a a7?hat0s remar1a le a o5t this is that i/ !o5 rea7 Green er20s 6or1s, there are onl! 2 mentions o/ "5cham. .rior to 1IJK- A/ter 1IJK he0s tal1in2 a o5t him eCtensi3el! an7 .olemicall!- "5cham.0s .erio7 o/ 7ominance 6as in the J0s, not

6hen he 6as act5all! 7oin2 his 6or1- A5st as Green er2 6ron2l! i7enti/ie7 7a7a an7 s5rrealism to2ether, is it .ossi le he mis-e<5ate7 minimalism an7 .o.@ *o. is inno3atin2 on content, not on me7i5m+et0s 2o ac1 to 1itsch- %itsch /or Green er296hich 6as .rett! m5ch Roc16ell: 6as an imitation o/ aca7emic art- NO s5ch thin2 as a5thentic /ol1 c5lt5re- $eems to me that the re3erse is more li1el!- # thin1 hi2h art 2ro6s o5t o/ the .o.5lar arts-m #/ 6e loo1 at 20th cent5r!, it0s most li1el! to e remem ere7 /or .o. m5sic, cinema, 3i7eo2ames .erha.s- #sn0t it .ossi le that comic oo1s 6ill e remem ere7 more /on7l! than (homas *!nchon@ ;6ait those are 7i//erent thin2s@@@ lol La75ltall!= *o. c5lt5re isn0t 7a7aist, it0s .rett! strai2ht/or6ar7 art$o .o. c5lt5re is closer to s5rrealism an7 .o. art eca5se it0s /oc5se7 on the content- $o let me >5st sa! that >5st as Hei7e22er an7 Mc+5han tr! to eliminate content an7 tal1 a o5t 7e.th, 5t it /li.s an7 the! ha3e to come ac1 to the s5r/ace, Green er2 is /orce7 to the same- '3en tho52h Green er2 7es.ises content he sa!s ins.iration is im.ortant in art 6hich is asicall! >5st content- He lets himsel/ o// the hoo1 ! ne3er tal1in2 a o5t .re-mo7ern art- He ne3er acco5nts /or it theoreticall!- His theor! is historicall! limite7- (he secon7 .ro lem sit at he can0t acco5nt /or all /or the 7i//erence et6een s5rrealism an7 aca7emic art- #t0s arel! .assin2 the strai2ht /ace test to sa! that "ali is an aca7emic artists- (hir7 .ro lem is that Green er2 6ants an en7 to Neo7a7a 5t he can0t 7o it ! eCtra.olatin2 his o6n theor!- ,o5 can0t 2et m5ch /latter than a stract eC.ressionism 6hich is 6h! # thin1 a lot o/ .eo.le e3ent5all! a an7one7 it# criticiBe the Ne6 Critics in a recent 6or1- (he! seem to e ma1in2 a literar! 6or1 an a5tonomo5s thin2 se.arate /rom their conteCt, the! thin1 that the!0re creatin2 an a5tonomo5s literar! 6or1- )5t i/ !o5 7i2 in, e3er! .oem a//ects e3er! other .oem- #t0s li1e a 5ni/ie7 6hole ehin7 all the se.arate .ieces o/ art- ?e 1no6 that a s5ccess/5l no3elist is one that can 2i3es characters a li/e o/ their o6n that co5l7 6al1 ri2ht o5t o / the no3el M # .ro.ose a n irre3erent techni<5e 6here !o5 ta1e a lit 6or1 an7 mo7i/! it- A77Dremo3e cha.ters, characters, etc- (o see 6hat ha..ens- As it see it, the 6or1 i s 7istinct /rom its act5al state- ,o5 can remo3e a sin2le 6or7 /rom a no3el an7 it 6ill still e that no3el- ,o5 co5l7 e3en im.ro3e a no3el ;an7 ma1e it MOR' itsel/, # 25ess=Almost o5t o/ time- Ultimatel! the .ro lem /or Green er2 is similar to the .ro lem /or Hei7e22er Hei7e22er 6a//les a it in the 7i//erence et6een ein2 an7 ein2s- 4or him it means t6o 7i//erent thin2s 5t he 7oesn0t seem to realiBe)ein2D ein2s: hi77enDre3eale7, 5t also sin25larD.l5ral- #n Green er2 there0s a

similar i7ea- (He inter.la! is et6een the content o/ the .aintin2 an7 the me7i5m(he me7i5m is the 5ni/ie7 /lat can3as- (hat0s 6here the 7e.th comes /romGreen er2 is 6ron2 in claimin2 that content is all literal content, so5n7s li1e Hei7e22er 6hen he ri7ic5les in7i3i75al ein2s- One o/ the thin2s that ins.ire7 these tho52hts /or me is that the most .o6er/5l art #03e seen recentl! is the (ahrir $<5are 2ra//iti- Not >5st eca5se o/ its .olitical content 5t also its aesthetic <5alit!- *haraohs an7 2enerals an7 chariots an7 .eo.le 6ho ha3e een sni.e7, etcGreen er2 6o5l7 .ro a l! sa! it0s aca7emic art ;or .ro3incial art8=- #s it .ossi le that .hiloso.h!, the arts, an7 me7ia theor! 6ill ret5rn to content@ (he 2ra//iti in (ahrir seems li1e tra7itional /i25rati3e art- )5t not in the sense o/ a s5r/aceG there0s no can3as- (he /i25res are se.arate an7 5nearthl! an7 remin7 me o/ )!Bantine icons- (here ma! e 7i//erent 6a!s to 7o it 5t 6hat is comin2 is the en7 o/ a lon2 .erio7 in theor! 6here 7e.th al6a!s tri5m.he7 o3er s5r/ace;#n res.onse to a N a o5t .an.s!chism=: #0m not reall! a .an.s!chic, #0m a .antranslationist, e3en tho52h that0s a ar aric miCt5re o/ 2ree1 an7 latin roots8 Also, 6here 7o !o5 .5t animals@ "escartes sol3es it ! sa!in2 animals are machines, tort5re them all !o5 li1e- ,o5 2et /ol1s li1e &iBe1 6ho asicall! i2nore animalsHei7e22er 2i3es three 7i//erent cate2ories: h5mans, animals, stones, asicall!$ocrates tal1s a o5t animals as mi76a! et6een h5mans an7 2o7s, tho52h that 6as .ro a l! meta.hor- Hei7e22er sa!s the!0re mi76a!s et6een h5mans an7 stonesN: # 6o5l7n0t ha3e 6aste7 m! time on Green er2- #t0s interestin2 to com.are Hei7e22er0s o >ects an7 tool ein2 to ?arhol- #03e een thin1in2 a lot a o5t the sens5al 3ers5s the real o >ects, an7 that 7i//erence is 6hat ?arhol is 7oin2 on his neCt ste. a/ter "5cham.0s rea7!ma7e, the cons5mer .ro75cts an7 .ortraits o/ cele ritiesG: "o !o5 thin1 he 7oes that more e//ecti3el! than other artists in the J0s@ N: # thin1 ?arhol is reall! im.ortant .hiloso.hicall! an7 aestheticall! in rethin1in2 o >ecthoo7 e!on7 >5st the rea7!ma7es he .ro75ces- He 7oes it across me7ia: so5n7 o >ects, /ilms o >ects, roc1 an7 roll o >ets- Can !o5 a..l! that tension et6een sens5al an7 real o >ects to one ?arhol .iece@ G: #07 li1e to 7o that- # share the int5ition that ?arhol is im.ortant theoreticall! an7 .hiloso.hicall!- #07 li1e to eC.lain m! interest in Green er2: he0s a 2oo7 6riter st!listicall!, an7 he0s l5nt- His theor! is al6a!s o5t there on the ta le- His theor! isn0t 3er! 2oo7 5t it0s o5t there so !o5 can see 6hat0s 6ron2 6hen he is

6ron2 an7 it0s 5se/5l to see 6here he 6ent 6ron2- He0s a 2oo7 /oil /or other .ossi le theories- #t0s not al6a!s /air 5t it can e s5ch a .leas5re to to rea7 l5nt 6ritersN: ?hen !o5 tal1 a o5t me7i5m an7 content in Green er2 an7 Mc+5han #0m intereste7 in 6here /orm an7 st!le comes in as somethin2 that sho5l7 e ta1en into acco5nt- #s that me7i5m or content@ ;also a ram l! secon7 <5estion # 6as too 5s! snar1il! t6eetin2 a o5t to 6rite 7o6n= G: # thin1 st!le is not somethin2 that comes /rom content- ,o5 7on0t >5st loo1 at a 5nch o/ eCistin2 6or1s an7 eCtra.olate st!le /rom those- ;an7 neCt, ans6er to <5estion # 7i7nEt listen to = N: ?h! 7o 6e ha3e to sa! somethin2 is the same 6or1 i/ # chan2e the 2OOth line o/ a literar! teCt@ ?here 7o 6e 7ra6 the line@ G: (his is one o/ the /amo5s 7i//erences et6een h5manities an7 eCact sciences, in that there0s a matter o/ taste in3ol3e7- # 6o5l7 li1e to thin1 that it0s not entirel! a matter o/ o.inion 6hether chan2in2 certain 6or7s r5ins a /ilm or not- Critics can ar25e a o5t this 5t some taste 6ill e etter than othersN: )5t #0m not intereste7 in taste #0m intereste7 in 6here the line is et6een 7i//erent literar! o >ects@ G: (o sa! the 6or1 is a holistic machine is 3astl! o3erstatin2 the case, 6riters ma1e cha2nes 5. to the last min5te, an7 in secon7 e7itionsNG (his mi2ht e a tan2ent, 7o !o5 rea7 m5ch a o5t ne5roscience@ (he! tal1 a o5t semantic o >ects, o5r min7s ma1e m5lti7imensional ma.s- (hat inter/aces 6ith OOO, ri2ht@ G: # /in7 ne5roscience reall! re75cti3e- (he ar25ment that there is no sel/ is the i7ea that the sel/ is ma7e o/ .arts- )5t cars eCist, an7 the! are ma7e o/ .artsN: )5t this oo1 ;# 7i7nEt catch the name= 6as nonre75cti3e, tal1in2 a o5t semantic s.aces 6e ma1e 6ith o5r min7s G: #03e !et to enco5nter an! ne5roscience that o//ers res.ect /or an!thin2 that isn0t the rain an7 .h!sics an7 so on-

P 1 commentQ rea7 it elo6 or a77 one R Chris )ateman Octo er 2O, 2012 at 3:23 (han1s /or this, "ari5s8 Great to catch am this lect5re0s echo 3ia the internet- ::

Unli1e Graham, # 7on0t thin1 ne5roscience has to e re75cti3e- # tal1 a o5t .arts o/ the rain an7 ne5rochemicals 6hen 7escri in2 .la!, 5t # onl! see this as i7enti/!in2 the net6or1s in3ol3e7 in .artic5lar eC.eriences- #t 7oesn0t tell !o5 e3er!thin2, 5t it 7oesn0t tell !o5 nothin2 F an7 in .artic5lar it S7oesS 2i3e !o5 6a!s to in3esti2ate e!on7 mere sel/-re.ort- Graham seems to e<5ate ne5roscience 6ith eliminati3e materialism F the 1in7 associate7 6ith *a5l an7 *atricia Ch5rchlan7- )5t # 6or1 ha..il! in this s.ace 6itho5t an! 1in7 o/ materialist or re75cti3e .res5m.tions or metho7s, an7 # 7o5 t #0m alone(he .re3ailin2 tren7 6ithin ne5roscience ma! e in that 7irection, 5t as lon2 as the scientists 7o their >o ri2ht 6e al6a!s ha3e the ca.acit! to se.arate 6hat the! sa! /rom 6hat the! 7o F as +ato5r has it, the eC.erimental net6or1s allo6 entities to Ts.ea10- (his is o/ten more 5se/5l than 6hat the researchers thin1 the! hear- :: All the est8 R'*+,