激进的对称与“人的去中心化”——拉图尔的非人行动者能动性观念解读

Radical Symmetry and the Decentralization of Human:about Latour's Idea of the Agency of Nonhumans

拉图尔的行动者网络理论主张在人与非人之间保持激进的对称,认为二者都是科学活动中的行动者,享有完全对称的能动性。这种激进的对称性原则与拉图尔在科学研究中所追求的"人的去中心化"直接相关。从社会学角度看,人的去中心化很难实现,而且激进的对称很有可能导致科学实践的消解,因此,取消这种强对称性原则,代之以弱对称性原则,或许能够更好地理解科学。

In ANT, Latour insists radical symmetry between human and nonhumans. He thinks that both human and nonhumans are actors in scientific activities and they should share symmetrical agency. Radical symmetry concerns directly with the decentralization of human pursued by La＇tour in science studies, which is very hard tO realize from the view of sociology. Furthermore, radical symmetry will possibly result in the disappearance of Science practice. Canceling this kind of strong symmetry and replacing it with weak asymmetry maybe will help us to understand science better.