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Bruno Latour

Laboratory Life: The Construction of Scientific Facts

"Laboratory Life: The Construction of Scientific Facts" by Bruno Latour is a seminal work in the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). The book, co-written with Steve Woolgar, offers a groundbreaking ethnographic study of scientific practice through an examination of the daily workings of a scientific laboratory. Latour and Woolgar's central argument is that scientific facts are not discovered but rather constructed through a process of social negotiation and inscription within the scientific community. They challenge the traditional view of science as an objective, value-free pursuit of truth, and instead highlight the role of social and cultural factors in shaping scientific knowledge. The authors employ the concept of "black boxes" to describe how scientific facts come to be taken for granted and treated as unproblematic truths. They argue that once a scientific fact has been established, it is often treated as a black box, with little consideration given to the social and material processes that led to its construction. Latour and Woolgar's approach is both innovative and controversial, as they blur the boundaries between the natural and social sciences. They argue that the social and material dimensions of scientific practice are inseparable, and that the construction of scientific facts is a fundamentally social process. The book has had a profound impact on the field of STS, and has inspired a generation of scholars to explore the social and cultural dimensions of scientific practice. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the nature of scientific knowledge and the social and cultural factors that shape it. In conclusion, "Laboratory Life: The Construction of Scientific Facts" is a groundbreaking and thought-provoking work that challenges traditional views of science and offers a fresh perspective on the social and cultural dimensions of scientific practice. It is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in the nature of scientific knowledge and the social and cultural factors that shape it...