Posthuman Agency

Between Theoretical Traditions

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2579692
AutoresMark Jones (0000-0001-6858-9710, autor correspondente), Mark Peter Jones
Ano1996
Volume14
Fascículo3
Páginas290
Data de publicação1996-11-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociological Theory (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0735-2751 • E-ISSN: 1467-9558
EditoraJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/3045390
OpenAlexW2313367143
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas24
Referências citadas28

With his recent introduction of posthumanism, a decentered variant of constructivist sociology of science, Andrew Pickering advertises novel conceptual resources for social theorists. In fact, he tenders nothing less than a fundamental reordering of social thought. By invoking the concept of material agency, Pickering seeks to redefine the relationship between Nature and Society, while dismissing the humanist bias inherent in sociological inquiry. However, for all its ambition and good intentions, posthumanism delivers only analytical inconsistencies, the consequences of an uneasy synthesis of pragmatist and poststructuralist influences. When translated into the language of conventional sociological theory, these problems surface as an inadequate treatment of human agency. The works of the original pragmatists, particularly C.S. Peirce and G.H. Mead, illustrate how the objectives of posthumanism can be achieved without decentering, suggesting a renewed appreciation of humanist sociologies

Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Posthuman · Social science · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science