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Bruno Latour and the Ontological Dissolution of Nature in the Social Sciences: A Critical Review

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  • Jacques Pollini

Abstract

The concept of nature is central in any reflection about the relationships between humans and their environment. It is frequently under attack, which created a divide in academia that might partly explain the science war of the 1990s and that is still latent. This article is an attempt to make a step ahead in this debate. It responds to the anti-essentialist critique of nature formulated by Bruno Latour in his influential book Politiques de la nature . It shows that nature as an objective nonsocial reality must be conceptualised and studied if the relationships between humans and their environment are to be properly understood and managed. It proposes a definition of the word nature that is compatible with both an essentialist view of nature and the nonseparation of nature and culture. Eventually, it argues that such a return to an essentialist view of nature does not imply the use of nature as a benchmark to measure morality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacques Pollini, 2013. "Bruno Latour and the Ontological Dissolution of Nature in the Social Sciences: A Critical Review," Environmental Values, , vol. 22(1), pages 25-42, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envval:v:22:y:2013:i:1:p:25-42
    DOI: 10.3197/096327113X13528328798192
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