Mercedes Valmisa

Mercedes Valmisa, a philosopher and scholar of Chinese philosophy, discusses her groundbreaking book, All Things Act, which redefines agency as collective rather than individual. She argues that actions arise from networks of both human and nonhuman actors, challenging traditional concepts of intention and capacity. Valmisa also explores the idea of 'wu wei' as an enabling force for self-organization, and critiques the pessimism surrounding individual responsibility, advocating for a shift towards a more relational understanding of agency and social conditions.

Mercedes Valmisa, a philosopher and professor at Gettysburg College, delves into her groundbreaking work, All Things Act. She challenges traditional views of agency, arguing it's a collective, relational phenomenon involving both human and nonhuman actors. Valmisa discusses how intentions are emergent, shaped by social-material practices rather than internal thoughts. She also highlights concepts like wu wei as facilitative of self-organization and explores the urgent need for non-cruel optimism in distributing responsibility and cultivating ethical relationships.