Virgin Mary and the Neutrino: Reality in Trouble

Isabelle Stengers' Virgin Mary and the Neutrino explores the possibility of addressing modern practices through their divergence, developing an "ecology of practices" that includes cultural and political forces but is not reducible to them. She advocates for an approach to sciences that emphasizes the situated nature of each discipline and encourages thinking of reality as something we can relate to through the generation of diverging concerns and obligations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her groundbreaking work, Virgin Mary and the Neutrino, originally published in French in 2006 and now making its debut in English, Isabelle Stengers delves into the intriguing possibility of approaching modern practices not as a unified block but rather through their divergent paths. Drawing upon a diverse range of thinkers, from John Dewey to Gilles Deleuze, Stengers crafts an expansive and multifaceted perspective known as an "ecology of practices." This perspective encompasses cultural and political forces while remaining inclusive yet distinct from them. At the core of Stengers's advocacy lies an approach to the sciences that emphasizes the importance of situating each discipline in accordance with the specific relationships required to address the issues at hand. This departure from the traditional scientific/nonscientific binary, such as the opposition between the neutrino and the Virgin Mary, fosters a desire to perceive reality not as an impartial arbiter but rather as something that we can connect with through the generation of diverse concerns and obligations. By embracing this ecological perspective, Stengers encourages us to explore the complex interplay between different practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and our place within it. Through her thought-provoking exploration, Virgin Mary and the Neutrino offers a fresh and compelling perspective on the dynamics of modern society, challenging us to reevaluate our assumptions and embrace a more inclusive and interconnected worldview.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478025207