"Reality, we naturally think, stands ready-made and complete, and our intellects supervene with the one simple duty of describing it as it is already. But may not our decisions and actions be themselves important additions to reality? And may not previous reality itself be there, far less for the purpose of reappearing unaltered in our knowledge, than for the very purpose of stimulating us to such additions as shall enhance the universe’s total value?...We have got into rather deep water with this view, and it is no wonder that misunderstanding gathers round it...Still, a few people have always felt the idea in their bones, even if they could not quite articulate it. Among them is our dear Herb, and that is why we love him.
Cite as
Chris Fuchs, "Notes on a Herbacious Realitty", contributed by Mike Fortun, STS Infrastructures, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 6 June 2023, accessed 8 May 2024. https://stsinfrastructures.org/content/notes-herbacious-realitty
Critical Commentary
"Reality, we naturally think, stands ready-made and complete, and our intellects supervene with the one simple duty of describing it as it is already. But may not our decisions and actions be themselves important additions to reality? And may not previous reality itself be there, far less for the purpose of reappearing unaltered in our knowledge, than for the very purpose of stimulating us to such additions as shall enhance the universe’s total value?...We have got into rather deep water with this view, and it is no wonder that misunderstanding gathers round it...Still, a few people have always felt the idea in their bones, even if they could not quite articulate it. Among them is our dear Herb, and that is why we love him.