1997 volume 15(6) pages 731 – 756
doi:10.1068/d150731

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Murdoch J, 1997, "Inhuman/nonhuman/human: actor-network theory and the prospects for a nondualistic and symmetrical perspective on nature and society" Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 15(6) 731 – 756
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Inhuman/nonhuman/human: actor-network theory and the prospects for a nondualistic and symmetrical perspective on nature and society

Jonathan Murdoch

Received 1 July 1996; in revised form 26 November 1996

Abstract. Recently human geographers and sociologists have begun to focus onthe prospects for theories without dualisms. As a result of research ontechnology, animals, and the environment, it has become evident that ahuman-centred perspective, which continually positions humans as the onlysignificant actors, cannot adequately take into account the various nonhumans which make up our world and upon which we depend. In large part the human-centredness of much social science derives from asharp divide, a dualism, between nature and society and between the workof natural and human scientists. In this paper I consider one attemptto transgress this divide and assess the prospects for theories of thiskind. The focus here is upon actor-network theory (ANT), an approach developed by Michel Callon, Bruno Latour, and John Law within social studies ofscience. I first outline the social studies which form the backgroundto the development of ANT and then go on to elaborate the main contoursof the approach, with particular emphasis on its transgression of thenature - society distinction. I conclude witha critical assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and attempt to showhow it might be usefully combined with other, more traditional, socialscientific concerns.

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