Review_Author: Michael E. Skopp
Book_Author: Bruno Latour
Book_Title: Science In Action
Date: 5/27/99
Time: 10:11:38 AM
Remote Name: 151.196.98.20
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Science in Action Bruno Latour
Science in Action by Bruno Latour is a fascinating look into the complexity of science applications and interactions based on science research and discoveries. The main thesis that Latour presents is an approach to view science discoveries and applications through a historical perspective. In addition, he presents to us the complexity of interactions that occur when scientists make a discovery or apply a "science fact" to a working situation. The book is written in six chapters with an introduction. The introduction itself could be a considered a chapter due to its invaluable presentation of scientific evaluation by means of historical perspective. In an interesting comparative style, Latour presents to us a notion of two points of view in which we look and value science. The word BLACK BOX by Latour throughout the book. It is used when a piece of machinery or set of commands is too complex. A box is drawn around what they (cybernetitions) need to know nothing about except its input and output. What Latour is suggesting is that ready made science is Black Boxed, we need not know how it works only its input and output. To fully understand the science, we should look at how the topic arouse - how it evolved. This evolution mixes the entire spectrum of social interaction and need with the discovery of fact: "mixing hydrogen bonds with deadlines, debugging and bureaucratic style". Chapter 1 presents us with the notion of controversies that occur through the action of scientific discovery. As Latour presents it to us, "What happens when someone disbelieves a sentence?". This chapter goes through an analysis of how we may disagree with a concept, take that disagreement to various levels within an argument, lead discussions in a manner that will take listeners/readers to directed conclusion, and how to write and present material that will withstand and assault by critics. Chapter 2 presents us with more of how scientists work to protect their interests and discoveries by demonstrating their work (sometimes even in their actual laboratories). Latour demonstrates how scientists use spokesmen and how they gain allies and support. He explains that this is natural and is part of the scientific process and should be viewed and considered when analyzing science discoveries. The last section of this chapter deals with the state of settling controversies that arise. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with concepts of fortifying a scientists position. This is done by a wide range of methods inclusive of translating interests among people, getting people to believe and/or invest in a scientists product, using tactics of 1) displacing goals, 2) inventing new goals, 3) inventing new groups, and 4) rendering the detour visible. Chapters 5 and 6 present to us the reasons of societies in scientific need and how we socially interpret meaning from science. Of special interest is historical accounts of how different cultures view a particular issue. The concluding section of the book presents to us Latour's principles and rules in a summary around which the entire book is based.