Bruno Latour

Bruno Latour is among the most important figures in contemporary philosophy and social science. His ethnographic studies have revolutionized our understanding of areas as diverse as science, law, politics and religion. To facilitate a more realistic understanding of the world, Latour has introduced a radically fresh philosophical terminology and a new approach to social science, ‘Actor-Network Theory’. In seminal works such as Laboratory Life, We Have Never Been Modern and An Inquiry into Modes of Existence, Latour has outlined an alternative to the foundational categories of ‘modern’ western thought Ð particularly its distinction between society and nature Ð that has major consequences for our understanding of the ecological crisis and of the role of science in democratic societies. Latour’s ‘empirical philosophy’ has evolved considerably over the past four decades. In this lucid and compelling book, Gerard de Vries provides one of the first overviews of Latour’s work. He guides readers through Latour’s main publications, from his early ethnographies to his more recent philosophical works, showing with considerable skill how Latour’s ideas have developed. This book will be of great value to students and scholars attempting to come to terms with the immense challenge posed by Latour’s thought. It will be of interest to those studying philosophy, anthropology, sociology, science and technology studies, and almost all other branches of the social sciences and humanities.

Bruno Latour is among the most important figures in contemporary philosophy and social science. His ethnographic studies have revolutionized our understanding of areas as diverse as science, law, politics and religion. To facilitate a more realistic understanding of the world, Latour has introduced a radically fresh philosophical terminology and a new approach to social science, ‘Actor-Network Theory’. In seminal works such as Laboratory Life, We Have Never Been Modern and An Inquiry into Modes of Existence, Latour has outlined an alternative to the foundational categories of ‘modern’ western thought Ð particularly its distinction between society and nature Ð that has major consequences for our understanding of the ecological crisis and of the role of science in democratic societies. Latour’s ‘empirical philosophy’ has evolved considerably over the past four decades. In this lucid and compelling book, Gerard de Vries provides one of the first overviews of Latour’s work. He guides readers through Latour’s main publications, from his early ethnographies to his more recent philosophical works, showing with considerable skill how Latour’s ideas have developed. This book will be of great value to students and scholars attempting to come to terms with the immense challenge posed by Latour’s thought. It will be of interest to those studying philosophy, anthropology, sociology, science and technology studies, and almost all other branches of the social sciences and humanities.

"velskrevet uden at være forsimplende og pædagogisk uden at give afkald på nuance ... på alle måder en fornøjelse" (Casper Bruun Jensen, Dansk Sociologi ) Denne bog er en introduktion til den franske sociolog og filosof Bruno Latour. Bogen er en indføring i Latours forfatterskab og de discipliner, han har beskæftiget sig med og medvirket til at udvikle – f.eks. STS (Science, Technology, Society) og ANT (aktør-netværks-teori). Bogen tager afsæt i en af Latours grundlæggende antagelser, nemlig at det ikke giver mening at betragte natur og kultur som adskilte fænomener – hvilket ikke desto mindre ofte bliver gjort. Denne antagelse har vigtige konsekvenser inden for f.eks. natur- og samfundsvidenskaberne, fordi de objekter, man arbejder med, hverken kan betragtes som helt igennem naturlige eller socialt konstruerede. Tværtimod må vi ifølge Latour anerkende, at fænomener som ”videnskabelige kendsgerninger” og ”samfundsmæssig orden” opstår i et komplekst netværk, hvor naturlige og kulturelle elementer væver sig ind i hinanden. Opgaven bliver her at identificere disse netværk og rekonstruere deres måder at opstå på. Bruno Latour er i dag en af Europas mest nyskabende og indflydelsesrige socialteoretikere, og denne bog er den første danske introduktion til hans forfatterskab og analysemetode. Anders Blok er ph.d.-studerende på Institut for Sociologi, Københavns Universitet. For tiden er han gæsteforsker på Harvard University, USA. Torben Elgaard Jensen er lektor ved Institut for Planlægning, Innovation og Ledelse, DTU.