Juniper Tremper
Scientific Writing 105-19
Geneseo, NY
~165 words

Modern Contamination
Juniper Tremper

If you, like Latour, believe that perfect distinction between categories defines being modern, then this chapter rings truth. We as humans voluntarily “retie the Gordian knot” of labels because we value titles that have been customized for our specific circumstances. After all, as Latour notes, we are hybrids ourselves. However, he says these complex distinguishments do not prove us to be modern, explaining that we have two goals as a civilization: the work of purification, and the work of translation. Purification refers to keeping humans separate from nature, while translation includes creating custom labels and hybrids. As Latour claims, “as soon as we direct our attention simultaneously to [both], we immediately stop being wholly modern.” The self described paradox that he proceeds to detail raises the unanswered question of what will we become if we do not have clear separation.

His writings are curious to consider, but have no clear comparison to the tree planted only to be cut down, unless you rearrange the tree’s situation to be hybridized to better suit your point.