Complexities : social studies of knowledge practices / John Law and Annemarie Mol, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Law, John, 1946- editor.

Mol, Annemarie.

Series:

e-Duke books scholarly collection.

Science and cultural theory.

Science and cultural theory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Complexity (Philosophy).

Knowledge, Sociology of.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 295 pages)

Place of Publication:

Durham : Duke University Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Although much recent social science and humanities work has been a revolt against simplification, this volume explores the contrast between simplicity and complexity to reveal that this dichotomy, itself, is too simplistic. John Law and Annemarie Mol have gathered a distinguished panel of contributors to offer-particularly within the field of science studies-approaches to a theory of complexity, and at the same time a theoretical introduction to the topic. Indeed, they examine not only ways of relating to complexity but complexity in practice. Individual essays study complexity from a variety of perspectives, addressing market behavior, medical interventions, aeronautical design, the governing of supranational states, ecology, roadbuilding, meteorology, the science of complexity itself, and the psychology of childhood trauma. Other topics include complex wholes (holism) in the sciences, moral complexity in seemingly amoral endeavors, and issues relating to the protection of African elephants. With a focus on such concepts as multiplicity, partial connections, and ebbs and flows, the collection includes narratives from Kenya, Great Britain, Papua New Guinea, the Netherlands, France, and the meetings of the European Commission, written by anthropologists, economists, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and scholars of science, technology, and society. Contributors. Andrew Barry, Steven D. Brown, Michel Callon, Chunglin Kwa, John Law, Nick Lee, Annemarie Mol, Marilyn Strathern, Laurent Thévenot, Charis Thompson"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Romantic and baroque conceptions of complex wholes in the sciences / Chunglin Kwa

Which road to follow? / Laurent Thevenot

On space and depth / Marilyn Strathern

On hidden heterogeneities / John Law

In the middle of the network / Andrew Barry

When elephants stand for competing philosophies of nature / Charis Thompson

Writing and (re)writing devices as tools for managing complexity / Michel Callon

Cutting surgeons, walking patients / Annemarie Mol

Disposal of fear / Nick Lee and Steven D. Brown.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612920103

9781282920101

1282920103

9780822383550 9electronic book)

0822383551

OCLC:

850216616