Mike Emanuele
“We Have Never Been Modern” by Bruno Latour
We live in a generation where false dualisms surround us. Humans have become hybrids, involving themselves with every element on this planet. We have blurred dualisms such as nonhuman nature and human culture, combining the two into a lifestyle. The definition of the word “modern” means a passage of time into a new regime, from revolution, rupture, or any significant change. However to be modern we must be symmetrical, meaning we must to be able to separate practices such as translation and purification. Being a hybrid is not modern because it breaks the symmetry. Latour describes our era as the Gordian Knot meaning the weaving of issues and crises all into each other even though they are irrelevant to one another. Science has little relevance in politics, as social affairs have little to do with science. According to my mini essay, we incorporate a tree into our living space and use it as a symbol. Ultimately involving something non human, to humans. This is not modern. Their is no symmetry between a human and a tree.
Interesting thoughts about hybrids. I think certainly modern society does not like the idea of a hybrid as it shatters the neat boxes that we try to group issues in. However, the complex issues that meld science, politics, and other fields are “hybrids” that have existed in societies since forever. Therefore, hybrids are in fact modern as they exist in our society as well, but also imply that we are more tied to earlier civilizations than we want to think.
Latour conveys we must embrace both hybrid networks and “the natural world that has always been there” to be “truly modern.”
Interesting thoughts about hybrids. I think certainly modern society does not like the idea of a hybrid as it shatters the neat boxes that we try to group issues in. However, the complex issues that meld science, politics, and other fields are “hybrids” that have existed in societies since forever. Therefore, hybrids are in fact modern as they exist in our society as well, but also imply that we are more tied to earlier civilizations than we want to think.
Latour conveys we must embrace both hybrid networks and “the natural world that has always been there” to be “truly modern.