Summary
Bruno Latour argues that the widespread belief that the rise of science irrevocably separated modern humans from premodern ancestors is a matter of faith, not reality. He proposes that by questioning this conviction, we can understand the world differently. This anthropology of science examines how the notion of modernity itself functions as a belief system.
The book challenges the perceived linear progression from premodern to modern societies driven by scientific advancement. By analyzing the construction of what it means to be "modern," Latour reveals the constructed nature of this identity. Readers will encounter a critique of the very foundations of modern thought and the perceived distinction between nature and society.
Key concepts
- Modernity — The state of being modern, characterized by a belief in irrevocable separation from premodern ancestors due to the rise of science.
- Anthropology of science — A field that examines science as a cultural and social phenomenon, not just a purely objective pursuit.
- Premodern ancestors — Societies and beliefs that existed before the perceived advent of modernity and scientific advancement.
From the book
Description: With the rise of science, we moderns believe, the world changed irrevocably, separating us forever from our primitive, premodern ancestors. But if we were to let go of this fond conviction, Bruno Latour asks, what would the world look like? His book, an anthropology of science, shows us how much of modernity is actually a matter of faith.
Snippet: With the rise of science, we moderns believe, the world changed irrevocably, separating us forever from our primitive, premodern ancestors. But if we were to let go of this fond conviction, Bruno Latour asks, what would the world look like?