{"id":915,"date":"2020-02-14T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T00:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.bham.ac.uk\/englitpostgrad\/?p=915"},"modified":"2020-04-22T08:20:08","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T07:20:08","slug":"ctrg-speculative-philosophy-february-18th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bham.ac.uk\/englitpostgrad\/2020\/02\/14\/ctrg-speculative-philosophy-february-18th\/","title":{"rendered":"CTRG – Speculative Philosophy – February 18th"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday the 18th of February we will be looking at Graham Harman’s ‘The Third Table’. In this essay, Harman aims to clarify the nature of real objects, which is to say what an object is on its own terms. He does this by considering the everyday object of the table. For Harman, there are three ways of understanding a table. The first two are quite simple. Way number one, is as an object being made up of smaller components (matter, energy, and pieces\/parts); this is the table according to science–the table broken down into smaller constituent elements. Way number two of understanding a table is as an object when we encounter it in everyday use. This the table we use to put stuff onto, to eat off of, to work on. Against these two tables, Harman argues there is a third: a table of substance that withdraws from our understanding, but which is the real essence of a table.<\/p>\n

In this session we will discuss Harman’s speculative proposition of a Third table, and we urge all to attend! We’re also open to a wider discussion of speculative philosophy, so if you don’t get chance to read the article, come along and use this as an opportunity to open up about close encounters of the third kind<\/strong> in your own research!<\/p>\n

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A Close Encounter with a Table of the Third Kind<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For access to the reading, please contact please contact contemptheoryuob@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a> to be added to the mailing list. Alternatively, Harman’s essay can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Snacks and Refreshments will be Provided!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Details:<\/p>\n