Materialsm
Under ‘Materialsim’, truths, doctrines, laws, and Gods exist within the ‘material’ and must be defined without reaching to the ‘ideal’ as a construct. Any concept or entity can be material if it holds to the particular, plural, and progressive elements defined below. Being made of matter is unnecessary for a fit in Materialism, but the concept of material and matter is vital in the underlying conception.
- Particular: There are distinct and concrete constituents with their own identity and characteristics. From God all the way down to the simplest intelligence or material object.
- Plural: As the particulars form a composite, they join to have their own features and identities through the network of their interactions and negotiations.
- Progressive: As all facts, truths, and beings are particulars combined and defined by their plurality, all are subject to change.
Bruno Latour and Truth
Bruno Latour (1947 - 2022) is a prominent French sociologist and philosopher of science known for his work on the social construction of scientific knowledge and the dynamics of scientific practice. Latour argues that truths are not fixed or timeless but are constructed within specific social and historical contexts. He emphasizes the relational nature of knowledge, asserting that truths are shaped by the network of actors, institutions, and practices that participate in their construction. Truths emerge from complex social processes and interactions. He suggests that what is considered a fact results from negotiations, controversies, and the mobilization of various actors and resources. Facts are constructed through scientific practices, social interactions, and power dynamics rather than being fixed and objective entities. His work encourages us to understand knowledge production as a dynamic and complex process, challenging the notion of fixed and timeless truths.