das+Ding+(Schaffer)

=das Ding=

= =

In Kantian metaphysics, //**das Ding an sich**// is the thing-in-itself, the object in the world, the physical entity that exists in the noumenal realm outside of human perception, just waiting to be observed, perceived, and thought about. For Kant, //das Ding// is not directly knowable, but it is real, and it can be experienced. All human thinking is based on the assumption that //das Ding// exists.

While Kant's ontologies have been troubled by science studies, das Ding remains an important figure for consideration. Concepts that call into question the split betwen the noumenal and phenomal realms include:

Agential Realism (Weiss) Material Agency (Banks) Situated Knowledges (Hubbel) Situated Knowledges (Schaffer)