Reid-Bowen: Vital New Matters encompass metaphysics, existentialism, ecological philosophy, new religious movements and religion and gender. He is currently working on two book projects, one on ecocide and human evolution, the other on applied objectoriented ontology. Email: P.Reid-Bowen@bathspa.ac.uk
The speculative turn
This article serves as a warning. Put briefly, I propose that recent tremors in
the landscape of continental philosophy warrant close attention by
students of religion and gender. Whether these disturbances point towards
a forthcoming geo-theoretical upheaval, the shockwaves of which might be
felt throughout the humanities, social sciences and far beyond, or else are
a localized phenomenon, the product of released tensions along wellunderstood fronts of academic disagreement, is, as yet, undecided.
Predicting future trends in academic theorizing is as contentious and likely
to fail as forecasting the weather, playing the stock market or pinning
down the Big One. However, the tremors are real. They are the product of
a demographically and geographically diverse group of philosophers,
ranging from full professors to research students and independent
scholars, who, through cross disciplinary alliances and some fertile
examples of intellectual outreach, are attempting to rejuvenate speculative
philosophy.[1] In sum, it is arguable that there is a new philosophical
movement on the scene; it is gathering force; and it is making a difference
beyond its immediate environs. My somewhat partisan aim is to introduce
some elements of this movement and propose that it has the potential to
change the study of religion and gender for the better. I will share some
research notes on the Goddess movement to demonstrate some
implications of the speculative turn for the study of religion and gender.
The current rumblings in continental philosophy can be characterized in a
number of ways. In simple terms they denote two proposals: the first, a
- ↑ Two clarifications: first, it is notable that the gender distribution of this group is highly skewed toward men. This is a matter of considerable concern but at present only Isabelle Stengers is directly identified with the group. The work of scholars such as Karen Barad, Jane Bennett, Rosi Braidotti, Elizabeth Grosz and Donna Haraway could, though, easily be included. See M. O’Rourke, ‘Girls Welcome!!!’ Speculative Realism, Object Oriented Ontology and Queer Theory’ in Speculations II (2011), 275-312. Second, the group has a considerable Web 2.0 presence, with all of its members making extensive use of the blogosphere as a medium for philosophical discourse and interchange. A useful gateway site is Speculative Heresy, http://speculativeheresy.wordpress.com/.
