Anyone thinking about taking this course should be aware that Bruno Latour is not, and has never been, a scientist. He is in the same camp as Derrida, Lacan and Foucault, in that he has a great deal to say about science but very little experience of it.
He is the creator of 'Actor-Network Theory'. I summarize the introductory paragraphs from Wikipedia, to give you a flavor.
Actor–network theory is an approach to social theory and
research, originating in the field of science studies, which treats
objects as part of social networks. It can technically be described
as a "material-semiotic" method. This means that it maps relations
that are simultaneously material (between things) and semiotic
(between concepts). It assumes that many relations are both
material and semiotic.
Broadly speaking, ANT is a constructivist approach in that it
avoids essentialist explanations of events or innovations (e.g.
explaining a successful theory by understanding the combinations
and interactions of elements that make it successful, rather than
saying it is “true” and the others are “false”). However, it is
distinguished from many other STS and sociological network theories
for its distinct material-semiotic approach.
[+] [-] crntaylor|12 years ago|reply
He is the creator of 'Actor-Network Theory'. I summarize the introductory paragraphs from Wikipedia, to give you a flavor.