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| SOCI0090-1 | Actor-network sociology
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en administration publique, 1st year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en administration publique, 2nd year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en politiques européennes, 1st year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en politiques européennes, 2nd year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en relations internationales, 1st year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée en relations internationales, 2nd year | | 5 |
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| Master en sciences politiques, à finalité spécialisée en science, technologie et société, 1st year | | 5 |
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| Master in Sociology, in-depth approach, 1st year | | 3 |
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| Master in Sociology, didactic approach, 1st year | | 3 |
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| Master en sociologie, à finalité spécialisée en immigration studies, 1st year | | 3 |
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| Master in Sociology, Professional focus in applied sociology, 1st year | | 3 |
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| Lecturer : | François Melard |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the first semester, review in January |
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Course contents :
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| How to understand the formation and the transformation of Society through its scientific or technological stakes? Which are the social and political stakes of scientific and technological developments?
The sociology of the actor-network (Actor-Network Theory) proposes a multidisciplinary approach which tries to transcend the compartmentalization between social sciences and natural or applied sciences.
Course contents :
- General introduction to STS (Science, Technology and Society) and context of emergence of ANT (Actor-Network Theory);
- Philosophical and epistemological's drive of ANT;
- The concepts of ANT;
- Methodological consequences for the analyst;
- The ANT from the point of view of the practician : presentation of case studies;
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| At the end of the course, students should be able to... :
- Master the philosophical and empirical dimension linked to the ANT's approach;
- Undergo an empirical application of the theory (thesis, diagnostical expertise);
- Spot the transformation of the way to define the problem at hand and their effects...
- between heterogenous actants;
- in situation of technical and/or scientific controversies;
- with a key non-human dimension (relation to technical objects or animals). |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| None: the course is organised in a way that enable students coming from different backgrounds (Humanities, Social sciences, Sciences, Applied sciences and Medecine) to benefit from the approach .
It is a way - for some of them - to enter the social and humanistic realms through technical or scientifical practices or controversies. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| The course is organized through lectures, debates on STS articles, and case studies presentations by invited researchers. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Biagioli, M., Ed. (1999). The Science Studies Reader. New York, Routledge.
Callon, M. (1986). "Eléments pour une sociologie de la traduction. La domestication des coquilles Saint-Jacques et des marins-pêcheurs dans la baie de Saint-Brieuc." L'Année sociologique(36): 169-208.
Callon, M. and J. Law (1997). L'irruption des non-humains dans les sciences humaines: quelques leçons tirées de la sociologie des sciences et des techniques. Les limites de la rationalité. 2. Les figures du collectif. B. Reynaud. Paris, La Découverte: 99-118.
Lascoumes, P. (2002). De l'utilité des controverses socio-techniques. Journal International de Bioéthique, 13(2), 68-79.
Latour, B. (1994). "Une sociologie sans objet ? Remarques sur l'interobjectivité." Sociologie du travail 4: 587-607.
Latour, B. (2010). Cogitamus. Six lettres sur les humanités scientifiques. Paris, Éditions la découverte.
Pestre, D. (2006). Introduction aux Science Studies. Paris, La Découverte.
Stengers, I. (2004). L'étrange proposition du professeur Whitehead. La Recherche: 38-42.
Vinck, D. (2007). Sciences et société : Sociologie du travail scientifique. Paris, A. Colin. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Oral examination. |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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Contacts :
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| François Mélard
Phone: +00 32 63/230 901
E-mail : f.melard@ulg.ac.be |
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| Items online : |
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| Key articles of the course |
| Here are some of the articles used in the course of Sociology of Actor-Network-Theory (ANT). Some are readings for the course, others allow you to extend your thoughts. |
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