Against Understanding: The Techniques of Shock and Awe in Jesuit Theology, Neoliberal Thought and Timothy Morton's Philosophy of Hyperobjects. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmidt, Mario; Koddenbrock, Kai
• Is Part Of: Global society. Volume 33:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: International relations -- Periodicals; 303.482
• DOI: 10.1080/13600826.2018.1539954
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-0826

Abstract

Abstract : Revolving around three examples - Jesuit missionary activities in 17th century North America, Friedrich von Hayek's neoliberal thought and Timothy Morton's theory of hyperobjects - our paper discusses the notions of "distance" and "pointing out" which are subterraneously at work in today's critical spirit and its tendency to align itself with the "affirmation turn". Our investigation of the distances between subject and object and the role of the critic's pointing at diverse "hyperobjects" (god, the market and global warming), helps us excavate a mode of critique that we call "presentist persuasion". "Presentist persuasion" works as a form of critique that reveals the truth by pointing out hyperobjects' encompassing presence for the sake of an overarching ethical or political goal instead of initiating a process of understanding them.