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Actor Network-Theory. Week 4. Actor-Network Theory. Abbreviated as ‘ANT’ An approach to social theory relating to ‘material-semiotic’ method Asserts the agency of non-humans Challenges conventional and critical sociology. Background. Originated in the field of social science
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Actor Network-Theory Week 4
Actor-Network Theory • Abbreviated as ‘ANT’ • An approach to social theory relating to ‘material-semiotic’ method • Asserts the agency of non-humans • Challenges conventional and critical sociology
Background • Originated in the field of social science • Developed at the Centre De Sociologie de I’Innovation in the 1980’s • Theory established by sociologist John Law and Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars Michel Callon and Bruno Latour • Developed to help comprehend processes of knowledge-creation and innovation in science and technology
Influences • Existing work by STS • Semiotics of Algiridas Julian Greimas • Writing of philosopher Michel Serres • Annales School of History • French Post-Structuralism • English language Academic traditions • Ethnomethodology • Symbolic Integrationist approaches
Concepts • Translation • Intermediaries and mediators • Generalized Symmetry • Actants • Punctualisation • Tokens/quasi-objects