Ontological and Epistemological Dimensions of Actor-Network Theory: A New Materialist Resonance with Deleuze and Guattari
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Actor-Network theory is distinguished by its insightful explanatory capacity to provide an understanding of unpredictable events that transcend the anthropocentric framework, including the Anthropocene, climate crisis, and generative artificial intelligence. However, this theory, which is part of new materialism, has often been criticized for its lack of a robust ontological foundation and theoretical depth. In this context, the objective of this article is to trace the genealogy of the philosophical and ontological aspects of the actor-network theory. First, I conduct an innovative interpretation of Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory as a subversion of Platonic ontology by referring to Phaedo and Republic 7 to clarify the ontological and epistemological dimensions of this theory. Second, the deepening of this theory involves bringing together the notion of the actor for Latour and that of the machine for Deleuze and Guattari, so that the machinic ontology developed by these two authors of Anti-Oedipus is linked with the relational ontology for Latour. Third, this study focuses on the subtle divergence between the notion of the actor and that of the machine. The axis of controversy among new materialist philosophers consists of various positions regarding the relationality between the internality and externality of relations. This meticulous examination contributes to providing a more enriched theoretical and practical perspective in response to the challenges posed by the Anthropocene.
Abstract
Actor-Network theory is distinguished by its insightful explanatory capacity to provide an understanding of unpredictable events that transcend the anthropocentric framework, including the Anthropocene, climate crisis, and generative artificial intelligence. However, this theory, which is part of new materialism, has often been criticized for its lack of a robust ontological foundation and theoretical depth. In this context, the objective of this article is to trace the genealogy of the philosophical and ontological aspects of the actor-network theory. First, I conduct an innovative interpretation of Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory as a subversion of Platonic ontology by referring to Phaedo and Republic 7 to clarify the ontological and epistemological dimensions of this theory. Second, the deepening of this theory involves bringing together the notion of the actor for Latour and that of the machine for Deleuze and Guattari, so that the machinic ontology developed by these two authors of Anti-Oedipus is linked with the relational ontology for Latour. Third, this study focuses on the subtle divergence between the notion of the actor and that of the machine. The axis of controversy among new materialist philosophers consists of various positions regarding the relationality between the internality and externality of relations. This meticulous examination contributes to providing a more enriched theoretical and practical perspective in response to the challenges posed by the Anthropocene.