So I was reading this without any foreknowledge of the broader span of actor-network theory. Only interaction with it was via this article- as such, I viewed it only within the sociological rubric. Interesting to get a take on it from a scientific standpoint. Should mention that the only direct reference to science w/in the article was a paragraph or two about knowledge, and how it's really just the locus point of several environmental, social and technological interactions. Which seemed to me less denigrating and more kind of respectful of the scientific method. But again, didn't have the back story, so maybe it was a back-handed jab.

I'm not even sure that I agree with it from a sociological/psychological perspective- the idea that "personhood" exists only as an effect of broader systems rankles a little bit. What about personality? Isn't that supposed to be immutable? Even if you strip a person of context, even if you subtract the meaning from their profession, social standing, etc., aren't there aspects of that person that persist in vacuum? In other words, this theory seems to do away entirely with the "nature" side of the nature vs. nurture debate. At a time when it's broadly accepted that nature and nurture work in conjunction with one another, seems like a hell of a thing to argue that identity and meaning are nothing more than functions of broader governing environmental systems.

Nevertheless. It DOES scratch some sort of political itch for me- I've never been a firm believer that success solely from individual agency is a thing, and that unfortunately comprises the backbone (or at least a few integral vertebrae) of the American sociopolitical position. Actor-network by design totally denies that idea. No, more than that. Not only ignores the notion of individual agency but obliterates it so completely that the individual is sapped of meaning entirely. Not particularly useful from a practical standpoint, but as social propaganda, I find it very powerful, and a pleasing counterpoint to the old trope of rugged individualism.

Also, on a level I can't entirely explain, I really love the idea of dismissing any sort of real difference between human and machine, and either from concept. It's a great way to chip away at one's ego.