Technogenesis Flashcards
what is Latour great divide?
The “Great Divide” referred to by Bruno Latour is a concept in the philosophy of science that he discusses in his work, particularly in relation to the sociology of science.
In Latour’s view, the Great Divide represents a historical and conceptual split between two domains: nature (the objective world of facts, entities, and phenomena) and society (the realm of human relationships, culture, and social constructs). This division has been traditionally upheld in Western thought, where science is seen as dealing solely with objective facts and truths about nature, independent of human influence or social context.
Latour challenges this division by arguing that it is artificial and misleading. He suggests that scientific knowledge is actually constructed through social processes, involving human interactions, interests, and cultural contexts. According to Latour, scientific facts are not discovered but rather negotiated and stabilized through networks of actors (scientists, instruments, institutions, etc.) in what he terms “network theory of knowledge.”
Therefore, the Great Divide for Latour signifies the need to reconceptualize the relationship between nature and society, emphasizing the interconnectedness and mutual shaping of scientific knowledge and social practices. This perspective has significant implications for understanding how science operates and how knowledge is produced in society.
