Timothy Morton
Timothy Morton
Full Name and Common Aliases
Timothy Morton is a British philosopher and cultural theorist known for his work on environmental philosophy, object-oriented ontology, and ecophenomenology.
Birth and Death Dates
Born in 1968, Timothy Morton's exact birthdate is not publicly disclosed. There is no record of him passing away.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Morton is a British national and holds the Rita Shea Desmond Chair in Irish Studies at the University of California, Irvine. He has also taught at various institutions, including the University of Essex, De Montfort University, and New York University.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the UK, Morton's early life was marked by an interest in philosophy and literature. His academic background is rooted in classical studies and English literature, which laid the foundation for his later work on environmental philosophy and cultural theory.
Major Accomplishments
Morton's contributions to various fields are substantial:
He is a prominent figure in object-oriented ontology (OOO), an intellectual movement that challenges traditional notions of subject-object relations.
Morton has also made significant contributions to ecophenomenology, which explores the relationship between humans and the natural world.
His work on posthumanism, a concept that blurs the lines between human and non-human entities, has sparked important discussions in philosophy, science studies, and cultural theory.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Morton's notable works include:
Ecology Without Nature (2007), which critiques traditional notions of nature and ecology.
The Ecological Thought (2010), a book that explores the intersection of environmentalism and philosophy.
Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology After the End of the World (2013), a work that examines the impact of human activity on the environment.
Impact and Legacy
Timothy Morton's ideas have had a profound impact on various fields:
His work has influenced scholars in environmental studies, philosophy, and cultural theory.
Morton's concepts, such as "hyperobjects" and "ecological thought," have become integral to contemporary discussions on sustainability, climate change, and the Anthropocene.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Timothy Morton is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Innovative ideas that challenge traditional notions of humanism and environmentalism.
Ability to bridge disciplines and inspire new perspectives on complex issues.
* Commitment to exploring the intersection of philosophy, ecology, and culture.
Quotes by Timothy Morton
The ideal job letter starts with a brilliant light. Then we realize that this brilliant light is actually sunlight, shafts of it, pouring through trees onto a thick bed of pine needles. Soft dusty resin floats in the sun shafts, invitingly. The smell of pine and sap rises from the forest floor. A twig snaps underfoot.
Job applications are an aesthetic event. They are performance art. They are not about proving you are smart - well, maybe your writing sample does that, but even then, the main point is to get an interview.
I'm the absolute worst at getting jobs, ever. I had 100 rejections before I landed one. I kept all the letters in a folder until I realized I could just chuck them away.
'Free speech' isn't speech at all if it's being used without listening, attention, or care.
It's very important that we keep our imagination, which is our capacity to open the future, awake at a time at which the urge to collapse into the fetal position is high.
American voting districts are, across a lot of the country, deeply messed up by having been gerrymandered by right-wing politicians.
The noises Russia makes on the world stage are deeply misogynist, homophobic and racist.
Since when did scientific evidence become a reason to shy away from ecological action just because it wasn't popular?
We like to think, in our anthropocentric way, that irony means that you transcended something, but actually, what it means is that you've realised that you're stuck in something, and you have this kind of uncanny awareness of that, and there's not much you can do about that feeling of stuckness.
I'm not unhappy with the idea of appealing to people's self-interest if that's what makes them understand something about the non-human world.