This excerpt from Bruno Latour's 1990 paper, later published in English in 1996, explains Actor-Network Theory (ANT). ANT challenges traditional social theory by rejecting the separation of nature, society, and discourse, arguing that all entities—human and non-human—are interconnected in networks. The theory uses the metaphor of networks to analyze the relationships and interactions between these entities, emphasizing the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of these connections. Latour addresses common misunderstandings of ANT, particularly concerning its use of "network" and "actor," clarifying that ANT is not about social networks but about ontological claims regarding the interconnectedness of all actants. Finally, the text proposes "quasi-objects" as a way to understand the dynamic interactions within these networks.
Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation.
Latour, B. (1996). On actor-network theory: A few clarifications. Soziale Welt, 47(4), 369–381. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40878163
