Latour, Bruno - On Actor-Network-Theory

8/11/2019 Latour, Bruno - On Actor-Network-Theory

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SOZILE WELT Jgg 47 16, H4

Zeitschrif sozalwissenschafliche Forschung und Ps

_Sm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367

O ar-etk theoyA lations.

B L .. .. ..... ... . ......... . .. .. . 369

uke, Ronal Choce Theoe und de Re de Zet.E Veuch zur dynamschen Inegio ze Theoieppeven

B u RM . . . . . . . . . . . . 382

Nle noatonysme, sozl Kptl undooen von UnehmenV D Jans . .. ....... 411

Hohqufze Agsl ud briebche Umsrukuerung.Eso v Szilgio ud yla Gbeeb

Wm Ha Kohoj ... 435

Nrmlt-Mg.dustee eziug d Buwsch ud grbe

Deusads d chsWm Sha in Sefa Lu . . 450

Sgnun de Wsssgsln en Kober Ga Wg ........... .. . .. . .. 480

Denzeg d IdatBecungen u 28 onreB er Dusch Geescf rzle Dsd

Ue emann 485

Aune d Auo . ..... . .... ....... ...... .. 493

R di Musptgtug .. . .. . ... ... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . 494


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Ae Rcht vorbhaltn. Fmeis Vtuge de Beige ue n i Ene Vrlew t1ji. Beg rh l uhgen e nt e Veg Pes es nehes

DM 22 Vkotn; Jesegsp M 88 Vgeis S M 54 . M s esl rbon efie z ah n ie Heen. Knu hr

Ae Enseu R OZAL WLT' Insitut f e U , se M kto e si e ss ; kene H sdgng e VesBei en ut Rzsssk k Gr Beseng e e.

k: NOMO Poh 610 7 B Ten / 4


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Bn Lr: On actor-network theo.

Three soc have een developed over the ages to deal w agency. e rs one

i to attiue o hem natiy d to them wi natu e secon one s ot em socaly, d o te hem o he ocal fabic e rd one s o consdehem as a semio conction, and to lae an w bding of meanng eoi o sce tudie come fm te impo of cealy ifetgbeen te re ou. Micoe neutrino of DNA a e same menatu social an dicoue They real hum nd semioc enies n e sameba e acle por he conequence of thi ecula stuaon whc noben underlined beciene udie ed u to etie e links beten tese treesoces e actornork theo deloped by Con and hs coleages s an atmpt nven a vul ih n itaon he aicle ose f

ults and t o ercome hem by howng ho hey may be sed o accont he constrcon of eniti tha is r the attriuion of nau socety and meaning

Hans-P Bls RM: T he Asis of Socil Su Ron CoTeo nd e Importn of Tempoity. Ey on th Dynamic Integtiono wo Teoec Pepecti.

Dng e last dede here h een ploion tonal coce scolap n e socal sce he ppoe of the part of hi pape s scomeof e asons wy s deopen h had urpringy ie ence on eda aly. In he secod at te ape sos ta ny thoy poelsociolocal ali o a macsocologcal pblem mu y aenon o boh- and micrlel u Hoe not n the a tac Any macmcro mork ut eogz a me mae in th laonhp. It mut dent he paicul o d phch domnae he can urring n en popaton d pi e l mm a tce he encoun of nntonaly actng inddua th he of htoya a er of choce ps

Ja Ntona Sss o Innoon, C S onnovaon o Fs

Intiuona conition of acion and he embeddednsof in ld natona ym of nnoton ay ganing anion in the economc ndsoog anay of te nnoton p h pap deelop an ingve apach uing concept fm ecoomc, cence and chnology ud and oona eah he am s o an naona dnc n nnaion e Theapph ung data on chem m n natona conone fm Germy d one om te U Kngdom Bo embaked on nto the ny ded empeSupenduc () h e dedhn the e of a h pj on he on f naona o e anae appch combn boh vaabe concenng he natona

tuona at the mee and varab conceng te ntiuonaeup of ecto and chnoo he meel ung te conp of ganceEnom d cioo noion of ece he cen-


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8

thi o the aper i that mac d mtru o govece coy wocial ptal o the rm hc n urn hp or hinder tem lrn and inno.

H K y Q Employ d nte Compa an-

zons. Te Eion of S Integon d n L F Germa the lation o sional emploe their rm titionlyc a riiled atu mplment ecuri t d loal Yet he ho p manamen rr outotion undr the i o le manament d dcation vok unceainty d irritaion among te

iona. The hitheo dene oal ineton in the mpani bom ritilStingm the sional' id o r d comny, thi per h hr on ion

Vl U: Mt of Normal. Idu Rosn th G und Fc Coso ad Hol d C Idus

Compa wih the rmerly hemonal i at o ulion d the"normal emplment laionhip pi rm o gion o be deici Thi uch pil non-it indutri the concion and e hol and ering induri. He a t, the "riened at ouion rmie aicle etch ft mo o"normalition iete n hich he api o "normal ion Cuntly theglaon o emplmen laion iny being haped by n a

o eglaon:he a o neolibel or cd ibii Thi alo ch hemanagement o normal The cener o gulation coming lsunrm d theconsellaon o "normal rlaion d h in "atpi nduri chan Theacle thi r the ample o he bje o gulation: he eimmion nhe Fnch hoel d ering indu he th alonce in he Ger concion nd d the gulation o woring me in the German hoteld indu Picularly the l o llectie a and o the "ction onormalcy o ain rm o ion r"atpil indui


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I.

ploring he properie of r-nwor i he ak ha he Par oup of cienceand chnoogy ud e ef o ace ince he benning of he 198 (CalonLaw/Rip 1986) Hower, hi heory ha on been miunderood and hence muchabued hi per would ike o i me ofheinering properi of neorand plain ome of he munderdn ha have aen l no concern

hee wih he quiaive ude ey he "cowod analy'; ncehhemev miundod bee of he diicuy of aly ping heoca eo and quain onogy enailed b arneor (bu ee alon/ura/aene 1989a; b)

Te ndeandngdue o common ag of he wod nor il ande cooaon hy mpy

Te ma woud be o gve a comon nalming n he ene of age o n or ubay or eephone "neor Recen echnologi oen haee cce of a newor a of cuvey laed ye very dan elemen wih

e caon beween node beng made compuory hrou aof riu hgvng o a w nod a ec cc Nong i moe inenely conned modan more copoy doe egy o han a compuer neorSuc no e e bc eapo o an acornor chnil ner inhe enneer ee oy one o e poiblefl and izda of an acorner -no a c he i of nil ner imay be oca a ae no compulry pah no elly poiion nod omHug "newor of (1983), ve a hoil ample are acrneora he bennng of he and ony me of hei blized elemen end up being

neor n he enneer' en ha i he elecril id Even a h lahe

enneering deniion of neor i ll a paial pjecion of an crneorhe econd miunderandng i eay li: e acrnewor hry (hence )

hve lile o do wi e udy of cal neo hee ude no mar hoineng concn hemelv ih he orlaion ofindivl m ac heir equency dibuion homogeneiy pmiy died a a acion he oen oo gobal concep lie hoe of iniuion oanzaion a and nion addng o hem a mo c and maler e of aoaion AhouAha hi dru r uch ague al-encomg ociologil rm i adribing he very nau of ciei Bu do o i d no limi if human

nddual acr bu end he od acr or acan om, oindivl enii Whe ocial neor a informaion on he laon ofhuman n a ocial and nau ld hich i le unouched by he analiAam a accouning r he very sence of ciei and naur doe no ih o d

cial ner ial hry bu rebuld al heory ou of newor i amuch an onology or a meaphi a ology (Mol/Law 1994) Social neor

Sozale Welt 4 (1 S. 9-381


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370 n Ltou

w of coue be incuded in the drpon, but they wl o pg o pmnence (and vey few of her quantave tool have bee dd usb)

Why then ue the rd network, e t ope uh msudsdgs? The ueof the ord om fm Dde. he d "reau wud om h bg byDderot o drbe matter and bode order o avod the Cs dd bwee

mater and pr. hu, the o h ha a rong onoog copo o thebegnng Andeon 199). Put too mpy, a e o pos o dscbesen: ntead of ura one ge ame or rhym lu's peDeeuz/Guttar 98)) More peey t a hange of opolog sd o k s o sucs dmeno -or phere thee sos o skeo k s o ods ha have many dimsions thy cocos A s ppoxo, ANT am hat moder oete o b dscbd oucog s g a bu, threadlke, wry, g, op, cplcc s cpued by e noton of evel, a os, spes,

cgos, sucus, sss am a plang he ccoud b osdol ou g buy the nogy, pog d pos go ANT s b dloped by udent of ene d colog, d scl s s ul possbl oundertand what hol o og oujcg s bc cs muftued by atura d oc sccs d cs dsgd b gs eond approxmaon, ANT s us cl o o c s jo of thng no our undsdg o soclbcs s oug woklk oolog and oa theory.

o e e u l, AN a mpe maera ssc gu

Sngh os o co o cocopury and uny, but om mnaonog ad he are pang of ie T fng ha iance obdy and uin ae more ily ahieed hu neng ang eavngiing of e ha ae eak by hemev and ha h ie no mar how n, en ou of i wer hd, pm nane Fuut' y ofmpo cen oo of hnoo Bu he nuivephiooph i r accepng A i a kgund/gund ve ind ofang fom univea aw oa or nau - and aking conngenc oma quee paiuai ha houd eiher emnaed or poed i fm

edube nommebe unconne oi wh hen a a t prieomem en n pvonay commenube conneion hou hiunund vea Aha ome ay wh he oder ou of dioeror phop (ee 983; Pigogine/en 979 many pi wh ehnomehodoo (Garfinke d Lynch pnipe n Lynh 985 Uveiy or oer no he ue bu he cepion ha have acound r ci conngenc or cue more ke achipeag on a han ike a dong a odand Lmeaphoriay whe univea o i whoe uae etherwh oer or coec doe o p o l wha in

oa pket of ord o i bhe ls lg s onngen

h he mo couu pe of AN L s nohng bu nework, he nong behem, or, to us po o he hty ofphy, there no ahr c network ould b sed h ee A a duont d ls o but, sll dmos, the teary ep to uco d os ooog.


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II.

371

use of some of the smpt ppe of nets and then ads to it an that does some ;he additon of such an onlog ngdien deeply mod t.I wil at ou wh he simpl poperties common to all nerks

F/: the fadage of hing in tems of neorks is ha ge rd of"the yny of disce or pxmty Elemens whch e e when disconnecdmay b tely mo when their connecons anayzd; convesely elemenswhich uld app as ntely distant may be ose whn ther connecons bou back ino the pictu. can be one mere ay om someone n the nttelephone th d nehel be more closely conned to my moher 0milay; Alask reideer mght be ten me ay fm another one and h mightneerthel be cut o b a ppelne of 8 ml that ma ther maing r er mible; my son may sit schl wth a ab of his age bu n sp of ths pxiy fgde th mght d ap in words that wi become incomme

suble ar; a gppe may le in the gund ose to a ble telsion gla iber adnby a ge pi, d ch of them will neverthel connuously ignoe thelle worlds yig aund them The dlty have in defnng al ocaios rms of netoks due he plence of geogphy t sms obvious th oppe pxmy ad connecons Her geophca pmiy the lto science - hy-, of a proion - geogphes -, of a pctice mapping mng, tigulatng. Ther defintion of pmiy ad disace ul o t should be ncluded one ype of contions one of netokss w s ow All ditions in o suace and terries me om ourg o s wn and ied n by geogphe Out of ophe ad gogphy"n eeen he n netorks, there is no such thig a poxmity or a disancewhch ud no e d by connecibiity The geogphil notion is simplyaoher coon a gd dening a metr and a sle acob 19). The notonof neor hs s the y of ophers in denng space and oe us

a noon wh s neither socia no "l sce but aociions.Sa sge sle: the notion of neork allows us to diolve the micma

on h has pagu sia heory fm ncepon. The whole metaphor ofs g m the idividual o the nation state ugh famiy, nd kngoups stutons replaced by a meaphor of connecions. A nework eer

th other one t smplyong or m ny conneced The smallle/le sle model has te f wch have pven dtg r theory: t ted oder lation tha g m p to m or m tm top - as soey rly had a top d a ttom; impi that element "b bengmacsle o a di ne and should thus be studied nly om an elment "a which is micle; i is uerly able to h element goes frombeg ndivdul a - coectve b and back

The nork notion mpli a deeply eren social theory: t has no a priori ordreon; it not t the iologil myth of a op and a bottom of siey; t makablutely no aumpton wheher a ecifc locus s mac o mic d d notmod the ls sudy element "a o element "b; thus, it has no diculy inlowing the nomaton of a poorly connecd eleme i a higly coeedone b The netok notion idly suted to ll the cha of sl snce

t d not quie he alyst to ption he ld wth a poi sle The leha he ype numbe and opop of contios, l he actothemselv


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370 Bno Ltou

will ocoue be included in the drpton, but th wll ave no pvilege no pminence (and ey w of her quantitave ols have been deemed le).

W ene w nek, snce s open sch msnderstdn? The seof he comes fm Dde. The wo "rseau sed fm e bening byDde deribe mat and od n oe to avoid the Can dvide beeen

maer and spir Thus, the od has ad a sn onool componen m thebeginnng (Andeon 19) Pt o smpy, AT s a change of meapo dcrbe enc: of sac one amens o hyomes n Deeuzs panceDeezGattai 1980)). Moe pecisely i is a chge o pology Insad o thnngin ms of sces wo dmensions o sphe -ree dmensons - one is askedo hnk in rms of nod tha hae they hae connecons. Asa appoxmation, clams ha mode socie nno e dcried wthouecog hem as hang a bos tadle wy sngy p playchc ha is ne ped y the noons of les, ayes iies es,

cagor, ssems It aims at lanng te ec acconed r thosetional wods whot havng buy te onlogy poog and pot tha hem. has n eloped b stdens of science and chnology, and icaim s a t s uery mssle ndsand what hods socey gehe whoenjecng n its frc he facs maacd by ntul and social scienc and theaefcts designed engs a sond appxmation ANT s ths e camat e on a ac tsnjeion of thin in o ndestandng of socalfbi s og neoklke onlogy and social heoy

To emain at ts nie evel, is a simple maal sance amentSng does not come om cocenton p and ni bu fom dissemnaioneeogeet ad e cae paing o w i Ts feeling tha istnce obduc ad sdess mo asly ached togh neng, acing vng,wsngof es a ae emselv and hat ch te no mat how sngs isewoen o of s aer ms instance Ful's anlysis ofmco-powes we en solog of colog Bt nttepilosopcal s r accepng is a ackound/reground revel nstead ofsaing fom nveal las - sial or naul and takng ol conngenc as soman que ptlaties at shoud be ether elmnad or procd sa m

rrucble ncommensuble, unconed olti which then a a t prcesomem end n pvsonly commenbe onnecons Tu sund/backund l has some aiy wit the oer ou of disoeror chaos phlophy (Ser 1983; Pgogine/Stenge 1979) d man pcticl lkswth enomehodology (Garnkel ad Lynchs principle n Lync 1985) Unvealiy or oer not the le but he epons that hae be accouned rci con

tnn o lusrs mo lke peag on a s han ke ak dotng a sdland metaphorlly, whe unverls have inthe whole suace etherwith oer or wth connnes, d not atmpt fll n wha iin w

locl pockes of ord orin ehe aments ang the contingenciTis is the m counrntuitive pect of Ly the s nothng but net

works, the is nothng in ben them, or, e a metaphor om the hisy ofphsics, the s no aeher n which nerks should be immerd In ths sense ANTs a reductons d iv eoy but, I sal demon tis is te stnec ay sp s a irduconist and relaionist ontology


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a 1

II

mak of ome of he smpest ppet of ne an hn as t an athat oes ome ;h aton of such an onog nent eepy m t.I t ot wh hsimp ppees common noks.

Fc: h ant of tinkng in tems of nek i that ofhe y of ce o pmty Elemens whch ae oe whn dsconnema be itey mo wen the connecons are anayze; coneey emenwch o par y stant may be ce wen hei connecons bught back n h pictu I be one met ay om omeone in the nttelephone booh an nhe be moe cosey connecte my moh 60 miaay; an Askan reineer ght be n met ay fm anoth one an h mtnevthe be ct o b ppeine of 8 mes that makes the ming r r mposb; my on may sit at coo wth a ong ab of age, but n sp of t opomty n e h mgt apat in ors t wi becom ncommn

sbe ater; a gppe may e n the oun cose a be teson ga br annarb a ppe an c of them w nethe contuously io he rs yng un them The ity we hae in enng locaonsn rm of nerk i e the pence of geoghy It seems obviou ta we oppoe pxmty an connection Hower, geoph pmity the rutof a cence - of a profon geophe, of a pcce mappngm mtguatng The eton of pxmty an stance i uer - or it shou be ince one type of coecion, one tpe of neors wl se bo A ntons in ms of suace an errres come fm ouadig of map wn an e in by geogphe Out of ophe an ogphy,"n eten te o tworks he s no ch ng a poxmity or a cewic uld not be ded coctibit Th geophil noion s smpyanothe connecion to a gid dg a ics d a scal Qacob 19). Th notonof net help us to t o geogrrs dg sac o a notio hc i ntr social o "el sac bu associatios

Sll s/le sc t oio o tor llows us o diolv t cracrodisticto a s lagud socil to o its ictio ol aor oscas goig o t idivdual to t atio sate thugh l, ded i,ous stitutios ec is rlaced b a aor o cocios A etor is r

bi t otr o it is sil long or more inely coced. slscae/arg s odl s aures hic av rv dsatg r scalo it is tid to or elatio tat goes o to to bot or ro boo to

to - s i si rll ad a o d a botto it iles tat l " bigacrsca is o a drt aur d sould tus b studid dtly m el "a c is icrsc it is utterl uabl o lo ow n elemen go fmbig dividual - a - to collctiv - b - d bac

or otio ilies a dl diret social to: it no a priori oderrlatio t is o tid t iologca o a to d a botom of socey; it mes

absolul o utio wtr a scc locus aco or mico and do nood t tools stud l "a or l "b; thus, it as no iculy inlog t tsratio o a oorl coecd lment into ghly coecedoa tor oto is idell suid t lo the chage of sca, sinct dos o rquir t alst t titio r world t any a riori scae The scaetat is t e ubr d too o connecions, is lef to te actotslv


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3

The noon o netk allo s o the nny o al heoists, to someman o manoe beten the ngents o siey- its vetical spac is hiech its larng itsmsl its wholen, its oeng chacter d to see e aied and whatfthmade o. ste o having se ee and the ol vew, the notion o netrk als us to - y cnnected one whch nethel mains contnuous

... d sng e ndvdual e to he ma or any oce s ven eemen ecom sgic thugh the numbe o con m d ow os s mpoance osng i onnections.

sdusd: of neok as us o ge d s dmenson s e d g/sma. A suce a nsde d ud ted ud. A s a ounda whou nsde and ousd Te y quo s o no a coneon ased e ements.Te se e ks s ehe coeced u hen e e s

pandg tey a etk h no usde. s o und

over a bakgud k ono a sod so, s ke Deeuze's ghng od thatea by e e s backgound d e fred (De 1968). hea eonom k d y e noon of nek s ha no lonrobged o f e s en he coeos o use a compue maphordo no need e e x faa o MacPan use n" the intepace.A netork s a psve c do no need negavy o be understo.It h /no sado.

The noon of ne s s ogl ouline aldy allos s huespaa meapho v dered the stdy o socieynau so diclt and

u d d d obal, insde d ousde.hypaced aosd ontions (which do not have to ua being either social o natlor hn wl sh beow).Ths is not to say tha the is nothng ke maiey or oude" na ANT is on accsed of but h in order obain theo c p he coected ousidern and enormos work hs to be done (La 996a} Ths rk hoe sno ptd by the polo notion o netk, no matr how sophist ewsh to mke i. is why ANT adds to the mathemtil noon of nrk omplely i notion that of ar The new hybid acrnetwork" lds us aayom mmac pe n a wod whch no been so ny chard.o eh he proper should now move on rom satic and topologl pperti dic ad onoo on.

A netk n mathemai o n engineeng is something that is tced o nsibed some othe entiy - the mathematicia, the enneer An acrnetwok is entiy thatd the cing and the iscbng.It is onolol dention and no a peeo int mae the hands of othe, pecialy of hum ples o de.win oer nt out this ential ftue hat the o ac" added to it.

No the wo ar has been open to the me misdetandng the o netork.A" in he An


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O aek e

netork f lli ad s poer - dong some "netorng or "lsng sthe Am say ... Al, ths s he y ANT s mos on presnted whch sbout au sa ht the nght sy s blc becuse the strophyscsts hve

shown th s a bi blak hle n t "ctor n s semoc denton ncnt ha s sh hat cts or to whch cv s gned by othersIt mplnspec fhm dvactos nor o humns n genel ctnt lterly b an pvdd s granted to be the soue o n conAlthoughths pont h b ad v ad ove gan nthropocentrsm nd sococntsm reso sng sial s ( ll s n the crtques o socl plntons} tht echuse o N h b d tled o w superhumns longng pornd soppn a ahve her uthless gols Even y own netor

sud o Pstu (Lau 988 a) n spte o the engthy ontolog second p hson been undd a Mas Avenue vson o scence - whch s unr notonly to my ccu bu als Madson Avenue crtcsm be leeled tANT t s, on th is plete nience r pvidng model o humn

competence The s d f (humn cto n NT no ny bsc st o copetences tht hv b s a h bnng beuse the humn he se nd the soclctor o tritonl sal hy s on s gend

So wh s on s gda? h abuon o humn unhumn nonhum chctestcs; the bui f ppees mong these enttes; the tblshed beteen th h ulan enled by these ttrbuto buand onecons; the ta f hose ttrbutons stbut and

ons o the mny elem ha ua, nd o the ys through w h sn

he dcl o gspn s ha hs been mde by the uson of e to unad sd f poccuptons:

- s dfii f ent budng;- hdlil for to co th hy f suh a bulng; n lal la he "neto h f as hselves

AN ss ha h ls o these the urlad is svd when, nd ony when, hy fud i an ntegred p f sudy

Semot s a ay s ths ventre s wh u bk ou the uesono erenc d ha f h sc conton f pdus hat s nture "out

the nd sy up h wh a appxmon enngproducton sus, Ths s the aj ahi fhe stes nd othe "lngst u sitc turn Inad f b f communctonsbeeen hum as aue menng pdu ba h only mportntthng to studyIad f b unpoblemtc hy ba paqu The ts nolonge to me th spen, but to z ad lish ther thc rcheed nd compl a Insd o beng ede he hd becomemdts. From a a hs been md a d i sf en es thebest mns hve bee buy pg ll the consequ f hs aj tun y om

the nve model o coui Ther oten suli ptons hve beensmntled bu wht ai s a oolbo to study pduonsNT sosout rom ths toolbo wha i usfu to undestd h sn o enttesThee pont s tht eer y, iudng the sel siy au, on eercton, be undesod a hce or "sel f fi ad ner embnchments gong ro bst ue ctnts o es - cto Theeve pth h s hus d ives n oay lby f anyss comped


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74 Bruno Ltour

to e empovershed socia vocabuary"that used eer nd s now n fshionagan. Of couse the strucura renderg of these choce - dierenc - andembchmn choom - a no kept by T, bu eenta tits ofsemotre kep F,the gantingo humy o nvdual acr, or the ntg of co o the tng o onymy of zoomophc appeance, oamorphousn omateriaty, quie ayng the me pce. The efec be rent, he ges wi be deent, but not the wrk of atributng, mpuing,sbuing aco, comeec, eormanc d ions Secody, aco aoconceved as fxed eti bu s ows, atng objects undegoing rias, andther sabcontnuy, soopy hs o be obned byother acios and oher riaFnay, wha s ket m semocs s the cca pcce to grat texs and dscouthe aby n so ther cot, the autho n the - their eade -n buaad e ther own demcaiod meanu the problems o theanast hed to the "itse out beng owed to epe n he cn (Grem 1976) Dow wth interpretai! own with the cot The so

of the the 60s nd 70s eeryhing s a , here s oy dscourse, aatv iby themse we have o access to any hng bu accouns ae kep in T bu ved fom heontoog conseuenc Ths salvaton, hoer, do ot come by fag back on he predeconsucton commo sense - aer a, he s a social cup thee d at ou the bt by endng the semoc turn to famonaue d hs famous con it has bakeed out i the fs p

A majo nsrmaton of these sogs od when mo ws e oscentfc adech dscou by A d py o senic s As long

one sded os ths popul cu fashions, os, poi discourseon hod he seoc u" d take them so mny Scos didno sosy beie em ay d thus he lecua disce d scepismws e whie he double asry of scentism" d sociasm" kepnac n heir h Bu wha abou setic trth d mae!il eciency? Whabou e nce ou e" ha scientc s Tis ws e rsemioi and oug pasd e ril a price had be payed. he pc ofA semio ws ended defe a competely empy me th enabl ow y aembla of heenus entiti - icuding now the enes of science e " en of hology T s te second sd of

A is a dcribe e depoymen of ocions e semio; i ameod be he genve pa of y ntion It do not y ahig abou

the sha of en and acios bu ony wat the recog device sould be had al eni dscrbed er detals plc e ben oftheory on he ng, no on he specic shape at recorded When i s haacos ay be hu or humn a h ey pable, egens athey e oists ow no dences of that t no inera nooe hey buld he o mlit his do not qu y l actobu he nconiion r e otion the og o ors pob. stead o costany prdicg acto! should beave d whcaions aaoed a pori, ma no umption a d n orer man uncommed needs o s nen by nsisting on ini plably andabsou edom In sel s not a heory of aon, no mo t gpys a ho on he shape o cos ies d ep dg it jus qes t thber shoud suppose i ode he co' to be recoroed eir e falpate. Any shape s possibe povided s obsvey oded onude d


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O ac-ewo he 375

ltiude. Simily, ny ocaton pob pvdd i obvy codd a aheteeneou oition togh taton. It moe n nfagag ha ametnue.It en e ha a dcrptve vobuy; i mpy opn gist a poi eduto the pob of dcbn ieduon (Lo a pa .AT i no meely empct thogh ce i ode o dene uh a dcbpe n whih to depoy e dy thocl ommtment hve o b mad nd on poemicl ne ha o b an o o bd the ny to dia acowht hey houd do.Suh a dtbton of a on theoy the eodin fm adno idde ne heoy h h dipton nothe oue of mayiudendin ine A accd of ethe ben dogmt o of pdngmee

descrptons

Fo th am ao t o ued of lmn tht o "y

finitely

pbe ad o nvy of no eln wh humn to ey i fte (Lee/Bown 94

The ft o td - th motc ad the methodoogicl oe b hemevw be open to tiim h t bca thee no y o onide h bket

ou o on nd enc ov h pobem of menin-

p of he nowdted m of he wingng v nd the eond beue mey depoyighp of soton mght b a wohwhe deiptive tk bu d not o ny

pntion.I i oly whn a hd nd dded o he two nd ono imo netk mad that A ecp iim T move howeve i o douhat t h apd th anon of mny ue of A Whch i pi e one mad o dc ch nd oon ppe commeeni enouh

h ean of motc h y een to conde me podton wyfom what h na of te y whn emo i uned to ntu howeand hma t aoed o ene o h p it oon pp h hd doue o menin my be dppe togehe wthout ny dn ofin bk o nve im o n n i ony eue emotiin ded nd tey on tha nd of hi tht h t oied o mthemev to "menn. c hey cintiy eeved in th ene ofthin n ddiion to mg (not monng thei eief n the itence of goodold oi on whene t td hm) B emoi of h one my h to dp the men bt fom motc ...

one now ne emotc by pahbd o odemn o ton of decon one do not h to pc f t ague o obje one i nyzin. Suh

move i new ontinui pctc tha e deemed deent when one dewth lnue nd ymbo o wth ok nd mte. Thi mo n be idethe to elete hn o th dgn of o to elee o the ontooi tof thin.Wht ey m ha t a on nd no edution, nd ha hnew hybd v all tiis both th aon iey nd ung nceognd the dy of t chac dthe y olidiy ten hatw eond in thng o of o penton. Wh i lo th abodinon between epeaon ad hng bu th tly wh AN who dibue houh wha I hav cad a counopenn evoon

One eed hi f oon ndng emioi o hin iad of mng o menn he eond dcy f wh buildn n empy mhodoogcafme o ee dipion Aconto do onne nd by oncng wh onaohepovde n pnon of hm he oly one hee AN Wha a plnon? The thmn of a of p h ono o n onaohe No plnon ong o mo pful hn povdng conconamog unld lmn o howng ho on lmn hod may oh h o


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376 n u

a pperty s m nerks but one of hi al ppei (Lar1988b) Th bome mo o panable as ey and depding on what heydo one anote Acto cleaing up the own ms, k Once u ntthem ng, they o ba the lnaor pos o n Thevery dvide between dipon d lanaon, hows and w, bld empiicsmd gh theoizig s mnngl the dnce twn vtion

and ace n relativt heory Each newok, by ong, bnds" he lanaryru ud it, and he s no h be deach om ne no jump otsde a newok add an plntion a use a fco, a s of faco, a sees of cenc; one sinply te network e Evey etwoksoun lf wh s own e of nce on dfion of gwt, of -g, of famng of p In his pc he fme of nce of e anals donot dsppe mo tan the pscs's n n's od; on the con at ast itis able nd self, bu a a prce: the me com t n Genel Reativi-

a mousc of eence" d of a detach Galln fe nd ch account haso be calad by he vlent of a nz srmaon (Lar 1988c

Te s no y pvde an lanaon if he neok s no nd self Ts no in condicon h he scienc of povdg lanaon nd lsnce e ned om e ve di f a scienc that n panation of any scien-fic phenomeon and no cusaiy could be pded hout ndng the neworkitsef By tyng e paton to he nework iself T d not andon the goaof science, snc i sows ha is goa a nee ben acheed, at lt no u hepsemooca my of panaion t deprve isf of a oue it showsno one h ee ad in e rs pace Epanaon is pied tat s uld likegvy n Eiseins ced space t is the as an ec, but i is nowiniingsabe fom e dcipon e deploymen of e ne

Tis relatvs poson - but oe should pr the load rm of laionst sovs o other problems: that of isiciy and tha of relexv

Te ereivs deb eten provdng an planaon and simpl domenng e orcal cumsances falls apa the s no derence been plainingand eing o a network suruns self wh ne ourc f t " socoso coningencies", as citcs oen then simply ms that oher,lonr lasing oues have bn ed o stay aund the emology of -mstac Hughes's nerks of powe ugh 1983), nd by thei vergh h become mo and mo of a lanaton of themselv; you do no needa explaaion oating ovr themn nto hr soric goh Bdels n-oks nd od economics and h what he bg s" ar made of Yodo no nd ad them Citalsm or Z ept as othe summa, anoterpunctalion of the netwoks themsev Eher he dia a body of pac-c hch s tied the nwork nder cripton and tis s at growh of net-ork mns , o is no laed, and hen is just a rd added o the descipton,ly t is te wr se" s ses hsry its legitma place ich s not the place pdent hisrns like to sit on, as y awy as possible omonologcal qutons Te s noing be, er hn a circmstancial descrip

ion of neorks t just happens be tis y"

Bu sch a summay uld be con as hisricism if t e not undd asa deon of the thn emsv The deba wn stocsm ad explaationor theory not solabl as long as hee on the one had, a hsoy of people,of connnces, of ha is in time" and, on the other hand a theoy or a scence of


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O rk 77

w l, eea, ecay. Fo tee s scec oly f he ge, neciy s loy ace oly tog te owh ofa ek It slo hisy of gs, te te eba bete escp plo, orhisociy teor, s etely ole his is o e po of te f ts plaao oe, sce cbg o acc a ek s

w plaao o a plcato s a at as alys ben e e sle sceces o oe exacly psvely haen scienc" (Lao1996b)

Al ot e a goal of A et s ae a bons onc e fo fenc ge back to te aco a oce he aco ned bck tepbly of cg te ce g le bete s peosAshmo 18). Revt s see as a pblem relat heo b ppeasa er te obseer qts a stat t e t , i is l eohe c ay pvlege sats s ee. T pble fas , we

pologcal m of a ose obsee p l addiono me escpo" pps. Tee s o loe y pivl - but he he bee ay ee r eter Te obseve wha it s f is ona w l e oer of ce. I s o e p or navel scebece of pvlege sats as ee id th psion ad lince ofy o Wol ble amog wrl buld it do no see a datic lit on knowld s abaome of Gall f bu oly rou To nd f one of eece to te t ht wok d py th pric lik y oher ar. oe

to pla, o accot, obser pv, ae, doa d s i htove a { shoud y it h network" N pivl als

o a po lmts o nowled. a able accoun others, so it o ', mgh Hy, and vt a in h obse' wetk blg Sc NT's soluion ivity (Sn 3

Relvt s ot a pbe, sublin blk alon th th o kowlde thpso c eepses uld b lkd i th lad of oprtunity opee to actos c prs o striv parity priacy lk ote Of coe ble etaagage s abadond, bu t is not vn up usce obseve o splae e c metaagage sall ponts liido ve specc loc - cams, stos, copoe oms Te pric pt

e f oe locs to te t s at ee as may etaagage as th f ce te oly eaagage eq (see above 2 beg oadeqay calle ann wc s o be oo, le, so a sple - qle of a z sato g lle slato" (Lato1988) s lagage s eog o ove fm oe et to te oe, a espcc plcato ll alays be a oeo acco clsvely taloe te pble t (Lycs pcple, Calo's sposable plaatos", Sees's croove be plaam a plaas" (Se 15)). I t s oe geely appble, meas ta t s rg ove a etork at pa tself

Ths lo becoes commosese oce s acce tat a accot or a plo o a pof s aly ae to te l; at t oes ot sbc ayg h l Relsts s ell as e rerelatst eemes eam of sbcgnow rom te tgs teselves keeps ag gs o e rl, ais sion pcple s o loger weer o ot te s a t betee accot aaiy s a llso as bee olve ay -, bt wete or o oe velso e aoter o metaagage to o s tvel By abaoge as of epsology A s ot ece to mol elatsm, bt gets back a


16/19

8 Brno o

s ontlogical mmim: th an account leads yu t l h oher acc d is good i tty erps he mom, lt fes ofnce dstan and gn d it i bad Eiher ulipli the daing pointsen any wo eeens - and i od - or i det and on ediaors -and i is bd Either i rducions and ha' ad ne -, or educionist - andha he ig eica sandad r . We ee ha tis ouchsne i uchore dinating th qu r epseolo puiy or r undaon, orf m rms Demaai i i t enemy of detat

Buldi n he seio tu AN t ckes out socety atu onseroly mgprducion; h, k wih he lims of smiti withut losng tlx gs aciiy t h mti acos urning hem nt tlocalhyi wld mang et y ig such a couneroia uon ui a mplely empty m r scbng how y nt buds ts word nal it s o he decpive pojec ony ve f ers is angae -wich js enoug o n een e of referenc and ns b to the aco hemselve the abi to bud prcse accoun of one ohr by e y yh beave the goa of buldn an oveing panation - t r T acent o cuon at uld hod or place o puncuae a h oh i diplacd by the sah pitions tat i he deploymen f may lmnts posl acune r hough may mtalanguages pol

Now e gca pope e e bee skee

eco - e bas ooog s ve been oe bv e e netrks, but abou a neork acvit I sad above hre i not a net and anac ng down h ne, but hre i an actor whos denion of he world ouinesac delna, dbes i rords aks or a jecry tha i eda nwork No n independenly of the er a o g it, and no tcin don by an acor o o the ne ntrk no a ng bu he recoded ovent of a ng T qutions add no av canged It i no onewhether a net i a rprntaion or a tng, a p o soct or a pa of dsourse ora pa of natu bu what ov and how t oven i ecordd

We nno say ha wha mvinetk pi ioraon, genes ts, sauatons, w opinions, claim y etc, since ANT alts consru he is any t w wha crculates ins wha keeps thm ck so speak, m th ut Agan, I sai a thing he echl mtapho of newok i a atm ANT an oes nopture the tcing at N wha circua h f lke he crculan in he semioti x especialy sci tt (Bie 990) I s defney the compeence t w wih, he tl u h peformances i le o isplay, h as is mae t up h atons cev, he

ackroun n whch i i icuang ec Is py ha i t sence n tme anpac - s no a proy t ssence, u h ut th iions aken hough progmm a the artve path

Her such a cc ntion woud im the world of t andsore Wat happns when a cicuating_ objc ves the bounda of a ex? adiional answe is that the i a wning gap in been the t and th contextt h ntefae a datic tral is suppoed abuptly nrene troug which h


17/19

Oat-netork theo 379

crculaing ob is sessed eite by en is eeil t o is soil ieest.Not o r ANT whi oes ot beieve i is dsiion, sie it s eteded mening pducions to al roduions. AN e is no moe n sit umalong h nt; h wn i an e used y eious divide etwee ntue, soiety an cour r ANT on te ony, ee oninuity, mliiity oplugs bn crcuaing obes in e tt, te lims ouside te t in teocial" and wat th acan hmselves lly do i ntue". Te iuig oego on crculating an go on g is isotoy om wt ote tos do to it.Soty" h h a nt-lk opies s ve s, d so s nue". But iuld b more accu r AN o ay tht tese tree eoies e bity utigoin on a coninuou cing of acion and sil moe e so o teseeoi hmlve a pa of many trials nd evens nd esoues t e usedlon te pahs o atibu tuality" or socliy" o ntuity" is o t. Tey a a of wha i dibu no pa of wt m te dstibution

ee is no ohhf rd to dcib this common movmet. o sy tt it is

geelid nativ path uld immiay man ha s e ended eveying sy tha i i a rc or an ny or a gn or a cultur-ee ud ment eveyi would b nad incudng socty an dicoure to sy tt i is soil neest, soil cion or labour ul n socity o naue nd ts.It ws e out o tis essenial diicuty a ANT payd wih a genelized symmetry Clon 96 nd mde a princpl of uing whchr rds ae onnoed ione o e me elms o describ ohrs hus shing t contnuiy o newos nd te omlee dsed r h afctual gaps inroducd b eeltivistargumens. Heve, tis soution is h icy nc i may cobine ll e

sundestnds nd is is indee wha hand to ANT read and uses liesyinat ha i is a social conivs met, e eun of na or ayily Frnch bif in h ovl enon of Whch of co i i in asense, ut only insofa i he uano jection of nau oa an tn caim ha h (xiaon" hav _b olve laonce an h the job i no one bett on of h gan hony or h th y cbe A (xiion ae th ln n of what i in ben"he nework; an whch one i chon or rejec no p nce ncnt hav no n bten" o b fle in

H chong o r he networkcng activit to b one qe (Ser187) or ten igh b th bt nia o fa t i ccia r the ntion of thm ha wha ccla an wha aks h cication be both corin antnr A going o han han i a poor ap of a quaiobje inceahou i o ac h coective an atho h playng tea l no hou h oing ken he a i no oi by h pain Conve wha l h t prncp of cience tu (Lao 187) hat a cam i n th hanof othe i eqy an appxiaon inc it nta h locu o hhan an outh who pa a ca thot hev neng ac changA a , a qiobjc hou be hough of a movng actan that anr hose

who o he oing b th anr the oving obje When h ken ain abe or whn he ov kpt inac, thes o umstancwhch have b accone . Ths denition of wht is e ule d wt hcpions ud b nou tel AN om modls of ommuniions onh con bgn wih wel defned move n moving obets nd vie obst ochng o many cetios to be ind Bu note e bids y conion of ANT wi umaneneed o lguagcnrd, o xiseteed model.


18/19

80 o Lur

A a rl what i doing the movig ad w oved h no pecfc ooenouh The b atomorpc bu alo zopc py-opilogmorh hnmor idomorpc h i "(xopc. I ppenthat a gntive th h atat o ooeneou peie u o ofmehanim or o i or o id or o coeci ocal eni, bu he ception wh hould b aoud r (Lau 1996c)

i a orl tool to d pe d doan, o in e ene ohtrognt ad to brg inteobjtviy bck no e cen o tenon (u4) Yt t a trmly bad tool r dinn ocon I v blck ndwh itu no a oloud ad otd one u i necs e hvintd th atorntwork to i the yp o jecto obined bygly dirt mation Th a din k nd he one h wi ke holar bu r a numbr o ear to ome

ecn

Ande, d (10: id' m he Js Hpks Uivrity r imosh, Mam 8: h Riv Ths Wghg i Soiooy o Sii

Knedge Chio Uivty ChgBide Fs (0: h Ioohy of Sceic Tts: ii o Ayi; M /

Lch S Woo (H Rri i Sciec Pi, I CmridM S 1870.

Ca, Mche (18: Som m o a scioog io: domiio thsops d h hm o S rix , . La Hg),, Acn d Bel. ANew Sc o Knled? Rted d Kegan Pu, ndn, S 96-29.

Caln Mcl, La, n, Rp e Hg.) 986) Mappig te Dnai of Sene andTnol, Maln, ndn.

Calon Mce, Cial, Pier 1989): CWor nalss A T te Euatin fPublc Rep fr te NSF n PR N85 2 982, s.

Caln, Mice, Cal, Per Lae Fse 989): La Mtde d .n utl pou !lat d p pbl d ree Ede pou la NatinalScence undatn le d M,

D Gil 968) Dienc rpttn P P.Dele Gl Ga, Flx 1980): Mie plax. Captalise scpn Mnu,

Hry (67) Std Ehhodooy ce Ha, Nw ryGim Ad e (1976) O Meg S Wrigs Semioi hory Uiity

o Mioa , Mpos.Hh hom . (983) Nerks f or. i Sppy Systes h US, d d

Gmy, 8801930, The Joh Hpki Uivity BtimoJao Chii (12) ep d . ph horqe

de opi tves

'hoi, Ai Mche, PisLaor ro (18: Sciece cti H o oow Siests ad s hgh ety H Ui P, Cbd M

Lau, Bn 988a) Te Ptezn f F H ne P, CabdM.

Lau Bn 988b) Te P f Expn n Aten n S Wlg Hsg),Kled d R. N Fne n e f Kld g nd, S.5577.


19/19

I

Oao-nerk te 381

Latur Br (1988c): A Reltvt An f Einin' iiy, Sa td cece18 s. 34.

Lat Br 1994) On Thn Mdn, Cmmn Kwldg 2) . 264.

Latur Bu 9 b) Un g sn bj? N hq ur ltebecvtclg d i 6, S 57607

, n 6) F-Eh d S Th, n M P H.) Acut aSn N Inqy d Cmm Rn, Cmbidg Unii Pr CabdeM, S x-ii.

, n 6 b) D inf0bj Hv Hry? d htehea a Bthf Aid, Cmmn Kwdg 5), S 769

, n (996) D n Sh Ekndngn ne Lebhabe erWnhn, Adm Vg n bz n G Rr).

N, , S (99) Ohnsd h A-Nk Th Udvered Ctnn, m hi Sini 7, S 772790

ynh Mhe 198) Ar d f n b Sn A Sd Shp Wk hpT a Rearch Lab, ldg, ndn

M! Aee Law Jh (199) Rgn, N, nd Fd Aea a calg cal d ce, 2, S 6672

Pgne lya tee Iabele 979) n i, mhe e a cenca/Bata /New Yrk

er Mchel (983) ere. Ltet Sin Phhy, Th Jhn Hpk UveP Ba.

erre Mche 1987) tatue Bin i

, Mih (99) Cnvn inc C nd Tim wh n , ThUny Mhig P, br.

Sng, Iaele (1993) nnn d mr, Do .

Documents

Latour, Bruno - On Actor-Network-Theory