Discussion 5: Latour
General information about Latour and the chapters:
Bruno Latour is a French philosopher, anthropologist, and sociologist known for his work in the philosophy of science
and technology. He has also made significant contributions to the understanding of modernity, politics, and
environmental issues.
In "Down to Earth," Latour explores the global challenges posed by climate change and the migratory crisis. The text
touches upon the interconnected issues of environmental degradation, inequality, and the impact of modernization
on both wealthy and impoverished nations. Latour argues that the migratory crisis is a symptom of a shared ordeal –
the loss of land – and emphasizes the need for a collective response to address the challenges posed by climate
change.
The book addresses the dilemmas faced by societies in the context of the New Climatic Regime, where climate
change disrupts traditional notions of territory, identity, and security. Latour critiques the responses that involve
building walls and emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and cooperative approach to finding solutions to the
challenges posed by environmental changes.
Overall, "Down to Earth" appears to be a work that delves into the complex intersections of environmental issues,
migration, and the need for rethinking political and social structures in the face of the changing climate.
List of Latour’s general concepts:
Actor-Network Definition: ANT is a theoretical framework developed by Latour that aims to understand how
Theory (ANT): actors, both human and non-human, come together to form networks. It emphasizes the
agency of both human and non-human entities and their role in shaping social phenomena.
Explanation: ANT challenges traditional sociological approaches by treating both human and
non-human elements as "actants" that contribute equally to the formation and stability of
social networks. It explores the complex interactions between various entities and how
these interactions shape the social world.
Blackboxing: Definition: Blackboxing refers to the process by which complex technologies or systems
become accepted and widely used without people fully understanding the internal workings
of those systems.
Explanation: Latour argues that certain technologies or systems become "blackboxed" when
users no longer question how they function. Instead, they focus on the outputs or results of
these technologies without considering the intricate network of actors and processes
involved in their operation.
Hybridity: Definition: Hybridity, in Latour's work, refers to the blending or mixing of different elements,
whether human or non-human, in the construction of socio-technical networks.
Explanation: Latour emphasizes that the modern world is characterized by hybrid entities
that involve a combination of social, technological, and natural elements. These hybrids
challenge traditional distinctions between nature and culture, as well as between human
and non-human actors.
Immutable Definition: Immutable mobiles are objects or representations that have the ability to retain
Mobiles: their meaning or significance even when moved from one context to another.
Explanation: Latour introduces this concept to highlight the role of certain objects or
artifacts in carrying information across different social contexts. These objects serve as
stable intermediaries that help maintain the coherence of a network or argument.
Reassembling the Definition: "Reassembling the Social" is the title of one of Latour's influential books where
Social: he challenges traditional sociological concepts and proposes a new understanding of the
social based on the principles of ANT.
Explanation: In this book, Latour argues for a shift away from fixed and predefined social
, categories toward an approach that recognizes the dynamic and relational nature of social
phenomena. He advocates for a focus on the processes through which social order is
continually assembled and disassembled.
Network:
Definition: In Latour's work, a network refers to a set of interconnected actors, which can
include humans, objects, ideas, and institutions, that collectively shape a particular social or
technological phenomenon.
Explanation: Latour's notion of networks emphasizes the fluid and contingent nature of
social relationships. Networks are not predetermined structures but are actively constructed
through the interactions of diverse entities.
The book “Down to Earth” from Latour
1. Chapter 3: p7
In this chapter from Bruno Latour's book "Down to Earth," the author discusses the global challenges posed by the
migratory crisis and the impact of climate change on both wealthy and impoverished nations. The chapter begins by
highlighting the generalized nature of the migratory crisis, affecting not only external migrants crossing borders but
also internal migrants who feel left behind in their own countries due to environmental devastation.
Latour argues that the migratory crisis is a symptom of a common ordeal shared by all— the loss of land. This loss of
land, he contends, is a universal experience that leads to an unease felt both personally and collectively. The author
connects this unease to the election of Donald Trump, suggesting that the sense of panic in contemporary politics
arises from the feeling that the ground is giving way beneath everyone's feet.
The chapter explores the historical context of modernization and globalization, emphasizing how the territorial
question, once faced only by colonized peoples, is now addressed to the modernizing nations. Latour introduces the
concept of a "New Climatic Regime" that sweeps across borders, exposing everyone to environmental challenges
such as climate change, erosion, resource depletion, and habitat destruction.
Latour challenges the notion of defending nature as separate from defending territory, arguing that the challenge is
more existential and direct. He discusses the panic arising from a universal lack of shareable space and inhabitable
land, and how the feeling of injustice from historical land deprivation is now experienced universally.
The chapter concludes by posing the question of how to address the migratory crisis and the challenges of the New
Climatic Regime. Latour suggests that a new way forward involves discovering in common what land is inhabitable
and figuring out how to share it. The author critiques the idea of protecting oneself behind walls and emphasizes the
need for collective action and reassurance for those forced to migrate, without relying on rigid identities and borders
for protection. The political question, according to Latour, is how to provide reassurance and shelter to those on the
move while avoiding false protection based on identity constructs.
2. Chapter 4: P12
In this chapter from Bruno Latour's book, the author examines the concept of globalization, emphasizing the
ambiguity and complexity of the term. Latour argues that "globalization" has been used to describe two opposing
phenomena, leading to confusion. On one hand, globalization could imply a multiplication of viewpoints, considering
a greater variety of beings, cultures, and phenomena. On the other hand, it is often used to describe the imposition
of a single vision, limited to a few interests, standards, and protocols.
Latour suggests a distinction between "globalization-plus" and "globalization-minus." The former involves an increase
in perspectives and a consideration of diverse alternatives, while the latter implies a reduction in alternatives and the
imposition of a singular vision.
The chapter explores how the term "modernization" has been historically used to disqualify those resisting
globalization. Modernizers label those who cling to local attachments, traditions, and the land as backward and
