 |
|
     |
|
|
|
One of the key moves made since the 17th century, Latour argues, is a distinction between modes of "representation." In the laboratory Boyle is representing things before selected witnesses through scientific experiments, giving mute nature a voice through the scientist, while in politics Hobbes suggests that the Sovereign speaks for the citizens who have ceded authority to him. This separation of scientific representation and political is essential to the modern Constitution; it means that everyone "sees double," equivocating on the word "representation" as it applies to science or politics.
And in the modern order, these two forms of representation depend on a separation and at the same time a hidden union: "Hobbes's State is impotent without science and technology, but Hobbes speaks only of the representation of naked citizens; Boyle's science is impotent without a precise delimitation of the religious, political, and scientific spheres, and that is why he makes such an effort to counteract Hobbes's monism. They are like a pair of Founding Fathers, acting in concert to promote one and the same innovation in political theory: the representation of nonhumans belongs to science, but science is not allowed to appeal to politics; the representation of citizens belongs to politics, but politics is not allowed to have any relation to the nonhumans produced and mobilized by science and technology."
Consistent with his thesis, Latour denies that moderns every actually separate signs and things in this fashion. Like it or not, deny it or not, we are not surrounded by "in-significant things" but by "sign-things," products of nature-culture. But the fact that we THINK we are dealing only with things is an important belief of the tribe of modernists.
Another hint that sacramental theology - theory of signs - is at the heart of the formation of modernity.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
