Latour-Stengers - An Entangled Flight

Philippe Pignarre's book explores the friendship between Bruno Latour and Isabelle Stengers, highlighting their common starting point of scientific practice and their exploration of the new climatic regime and catastrophic times. Pignarre aims to interweave their thought, shedding new light on their work's origins and development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2023
Publisher: Polity Press

Certain remarkable friendships have etched their indelible mark in the annals of philosophy, and among them stands the friendship of Bruno Latour and Isabelle Stengers. While their collaborative writings are limited, their intellectual camaraderie endured for over thirty years, and their respective works can only be fully comprehended when the intricate web of their thought is unraveled. Latour and Stengers share a common starting point, which remains central to their work: scientific practice, a pride of modernity. Why do we, as Moderns, arrogate ourselves as the possessors of knowledge, while others are relegated to the realm of mere belief? This question, posed by Latour and Stengers, led them to confront a fundamental inquiry: how to comprehend and navigate the "new climatic regime" as coined by Latour and the "catastrophic times" as described by Stengers?

Philippe Pignarre's objective is not to delineate the ownership of ideas but rather to further intertwine their thought, thereby shedding new light on the origins and evolution of their work. Simultaneously, he chronicles an extraordinary intellectual journey between two of the foremost thinkers of our era.

Latour and Stengers' intellectual partnership began in the early 1970s, when they met at the Collège de France. Despite their divergent backgrounds, they shared a common interest in the study of science and technology. Over the years, their collaboration blossomed, and they published several influential works together.

One of their most notable collaborations is the book "Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society," which was published in 1987. In this book, Latour and Stengers argue that scientific practice is not merely a technical exercise but a social and political phenomenon. They explore how scientists and engineers interact with society, how they shape public policy, and how they contribute to the development of new technologies.

Latour and Stengers' work is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from various fields such as sociology, philosophy, and anthropology. They are known for their use of actor-network theory, which emphasizes the role of human actors and their networks in shaping the world. This approach has been influential in the study of science and technology, as it challenges the traditional notion of scientific progress as a linear and rational process.

In addition to their work on scientific practice, Latour and Stengers have also addressed a range of social and political issues. They have written about the role of science in shaping public opinion, the politics of knowledge production, and the environmental crisis. Their work has been criticized for its perceived anti-intellectualism and its rejection of traditional scientific methods, but it has also been praised for its innovative and thought-provoking approach to understanding the world.

Latour and Stengers' friendship has not been without its challenges. They have disagreed on various issues, including the role of religion in society and the implications of scientific progress for human well-being. However, their intellectual bond has remained strong, and they continue to inspire each other's work.

In conclusion, the friendship of Bruno Latour and Isabelle Stengers is a testament to the power of intellectual companionship. Their collaborative work has left an indelible mark on the field of philosophy, challenging traditional notions of knowledge and progress. Through their interdisciplinary approach and use of actor-network theory, Latour and Stengers have shed new light on the origins and development of their work, documenting an exceptional intellectual adventure between two of the leading thinkers of our age.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509555512