The Matter at Hand: Butler, Ontology and the Natural Sciences

References

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• Butler . Bodies That Matter 67 We should also note that even these comments fall short of the minimal force of matter that is considered necessary by most feminist philosophers of science. The mere fact that most philosophers of science assume a certain relation with matter is, of course, not in itself an argument for the necessity of this relation. It does, however, present a certain challenge to those who wish to subsume this relation in epistemological terms. This paper specifically holds that Butler's argument does not address this challenge, and hence is limited in its critical purchase for natural science
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• For an alternate analysis holding that matter can be seen in terms of a movement of language that is not confined to, or uniquely, human (hence matter and language are no longer incommensurable), see Kirby, Telling Flesh.
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• For example, Butler prefers to use 'materialisation' rather than 'matter', since the former term evokes a process, while the latter is held to imply a certain stasis or givenness. Kirby (Telling Flesh, p. 125) also notes that Butler avoids the use of words such as 'substance', which indicates an interiority of matter with which Butler avoids grappling.
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• Butler . Bodies That Matter 68 – 9 . It is noteworthy that Butler distinguishes at least three sorts of materiality: 'Apart from and yet related to the materiality of the signifier is the materiality of the signified, as well as the referent approached through the signified, but which remains irreducible to the signified'.
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• Butler . Bodies That Matter 34 where Butler provides and endorses a particular interpretation of Foucault: '…"being" belongs in quotation marks, for ontological weight is not presumed but always conferred'
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