Bruno Latour
Bruno Latour was a French philosopher, anthropologist, and sociologist, widely known for his work in science and technology studies (STS). His most influential ideas are encapsulated in **Actor-Network Theory** (ANT), which seeks to understand the interconnections between humans and non-humans in shaping society and knowledge. Latour’s work challenges the traditional divide between science and society, emphasizing how knowledge is socially constructed through complex networks of human and non-human actors.
Latour’s intellectual trajectory places him at the intersection of posthumanism and philosophy, as he critiques the anthropocentric worldviews that prioritize human agency while overlooking the contributions of other entities such as technology, animals, and the environment. His work on the relationship between humans, nature, and the technology aligns with key themes in posthumanism, focusing on a more holistic view of agency and environmental responsibility.
One of Latour’s most notable contributions is his critique of the modern worldview. In his book *We Have Never Been Modern*, Latour challenges the modern distinction between nature and society, asserting that the two are deeply intertwined and that the Enlightenment’s quest for objectivity has led to an artificial separation. His later works, such as *Down to Earth*, also focus on how human beings must reconsider their relationship with the Earth in light of environmental crises.
Bruno Latour's work continues to inspire discussions about the politics of science, technology, and ecology, and his legacy is integral to contemporary posthumanist thought, which emphasizes the importance of acknowledging non-human agency in understanding societal processes.
Key Works:
- We Have Never Been Modern (1991) - Latour critiques the modern worldview and the distinction between nature and society, offering a foundational text in science and technology studies.
- Actor-Network Theory (1996) - Latour develops the concept of ANT, exploring how knowledge and society are shaped by networks of human and non-human actors.
- The Politics of Nature (2004) - A work in which Latour examines how environmental issues require a rethinking of the politics surrounding human relations with nature.
- Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climate Regime (2017) - In this work, Latour addresses the political implications of climate change and the need for new political structures that account for the non-human world.
- Science in Action (1987) - Latour discusses how science is a collective process shaped by social forces and how scientific knowledge is created in a network of actions.
- Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory (2005) - This book provides an accessible introduction to ANT and its key ideas, focusing on how social order is maintained through a network of relations.