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What has become of critique? Reassembling sociology after Latour.
- Source :
- British Journal of Sociology; Jun2018, Vol. 69 Issue 2, p286-305, 20p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Abstract: This paper offers a defence of sociology through an engagement with Actor Network Theory (ANT) and particularly the critique of ‘critical’ and politically engaged social science developed by Bruno Latour. It argues that ANT identifies some weaknesses in more conventional sociology and social theory, and suggests that ‘critical’ and ‘public’ orientated sociologists can learn from the analytical precision and ethnographic sensibilities that characterize ANT as a framework of analysis and a research programme. It argues, however, that Latour et al. have too hastily dispensed with ‘critique’ in favour of a value neutral descriptive sociology, and that the symmetrical and horizontalist approach adopted in ANT is particularly ill‐suited to the development of scientific knowledge about social structures. It argues that a more straightforwardly realist sociology would share many of the strengths of ANT whilst being better able to interrogate, empirically and normatively, the centres of contemporary social power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SOCIOLOGY
ACTOR-network theory
REALISM
SOCIAL sciences
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00071315
- Volume :
- 69
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Sociology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 130105116
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12306