Hyperobjects: Understanding the Immense Entities That Shape Our World
In our modern age, there are phenomena so vast and omnipresent that they often escape our understanding. Philosopher Timothy Morton introduced the term “hyperobject” to describe these entities that are both everywhere and nowhere, influencing our reality in ways we don’t always perceive directly. But what exactly is a hyperobject?
What is a hyperobject?
A hyperobject is a phenomenon or entity so extended in time and space that it defies our traditional perception and understanding. Although they are everywhere, their immensity makes it difficult to fully perceive them. To better understand them, let’s take a look at three hyperobjects that have a major impact on our daily lives.
Climate change
Climate change, often discussed in the media, science and politics, presents itself as the most obvious example of a hyperobject. This multidimensional phenomenon spans centuries, leaving an imprint that spans past, present and future generations. Affecting every corner of the planet, it does not discriminate, although each region feels its effects in a distinct and unique way.
Its manifestations are diverse and varied. We are witnessing an intensification of storms, with devastating cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes causing unprecedented material and human damage. Coastlines and island communities are threatened by the inexorable rise in water levels, the result of melting glaciers and thermal expansion of the oceans. Agricultural lands, once fertile, are facing prolonged droughts, compromising food security and driving communities to migrate in search of better living conditions.
But beyond these visible manifestations, there are more subtle impacts. Ecosystems are disrupted, biodiversity is endangered and species are disappearing at an alarming rate. Diseases once confined to tropical regions are spreading to new areas as a result of temperature change.
Yet, despite the increasing amount of evidence and data at our disposal, the real challenge lies in our ability to grasp the full scale and complexity of climate change. Its scale is so colossal and its interconnections so intricate that it becomes a challenge for the human mind to grasp it in its entirety. And it is this omnipresent yet elusive nature that so accurately qualifies it as a hyperobject.
Technology and digital networks
Think back to the last time you unlocked your smartphone, searched for information on a search engine or sent an e-mail to a colleague or loved one. These gestures, which seem so banal and routine, are the fruit of an incredibly complex global technological infrastructure. Every digital interaction is supported by a vast network of servers, satellites, undersea cables and data centers stretching for thousands of kilometers.
Taken together, these technologies form an impressive hyperobject. They are so deeply embedded in our modern lives that they seem almost invisible, operating in the background of our daily routines. Think of the complexity of the web: billions of websites, hosted all over the world, interconnected so that you can access almost any information in seconds.
Or consider instant messaging applications: in an instant, a message you send can cross continents and oceans to reach its intended recipient, all orchestrated by a series of protocols and algorithms that guarantee transmission speed and security.
And yet, despite this technological prowess, we tend to forget or even overlook the scope and scale of this system. Its seamless integration into our daily activities has made us almost insensitive to its magnificence. We expect videos to be streamed without interruption, e-mails to be delivered in a fraction of a second and our web queries to be answered instantly, without really thinking about the complex machinery that makes it possible.
It is this unobtrusive omnipresence, this ability to be both everywhere and nowhere in our daily consciousness, that truly defines the hyperobject nature of our globalized digital technology.
Global economic systems
Every time you pass through the checkout in a store, or click on the “buy” button in an online store, you’re interacting with much more than just the product you’re taking away. Behind this seemingly simple act lies a vast web of economic interaction that spans the globe. The coffee you enjoy in the morning might have its roots in a South American plantation, roasted in Europe, and served in a local café. The clothes you wear could have been designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold in yours.
Financial markets, which often seem remote and abstract, actually influence a multitude of economic decisions that affect our daily lives. They determine interest rates, influence jobs and even the value of the currencies we use to buy goods and services.
Then there are the supply chains, the interconnected series of stages through which a product passes from conception to consumption. These chains can be incredibly long, involving dozens or even hundreds of companies, each contributing a small part to the final product. The disruption of any one of these stages, whether due to natural disaster, political conflict or any other reason, can have global repercussions on product availability and cost.
Global transactions, whether commercial, financial or otherwise, bind nations together in a complex dance of supply and demand. They create such interdependence that events in one corner of the world can have cascading effects on economies thousands of kilometers away.
Faced with this network of such scale and complexity, it is indeed almost impossible for an individual to grasp all its nuances and implications. Yet, even if we don’t fully understand its mechanics, we feel its effects on a daily basis, making this global economic system a hyperobject in its own right.
The Quest for Simplicity in a Complex World
The elusive and complex nature of hyperobjects can, for many, give rise to a feeling of helplessness or confusion. Faced with this complexity, it’s human nature to look for simpler explanations, even if they’re wrong. This is where conspiracy theories often find fertile ground. By offering simplistic and often erroneous explanations, these theories make hyperobjects “digestible” for those intimidated by their vastness.
By attributing responsibility for global phenomena to occult power groups or manipulative elites, these conspiracy theories offer a reassuring, if false, form of understanding. They transform abstract complexity into concrete, easily assimilated narratives. However, by oversimplifying, these theories risk obscuring the truth and distancing us from a real, nuanced understanding of the forces at work in our world.
Conclusion
Hyperobjects illuminate the unprecedented interconnectivity and complexity of our world. Whether it’s the global economic system, the technological network that underpins our daily communication, or the immense scientific research and validation infrastructure that underpins every medical or technological advance we make, these ubiquitous phenomena shape our reality at every turn.
Recognition of their presence, albeit often subtle or hidden, is essential to understanding the colossal forces that influence our daily lives. The way the scientific community, for example, conducts research, submits it to peers for validation, and then disseminates this knowledge, is a complex dance of collaborative effort and verification that ensures the credibility of the information we consume.
As our understanding of hyperobjects continues to refine and deepen, one thing remains certain: they’re here to stay. Their influence, though sometimes imperceptible, continues to shape our world, and we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of their true impact and significance.
