Should we trust our representatives ?

• Michel CALLON
  Professor, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Paris ; Research worker, Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation
  
• Bruno LATOUR
  Professor, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Paris ; Research worker, Centre de Sociologie de l'Innovation
  

Summary

According to the guest speakers, dissatisfaction with political representation both in France and elsewhere is the result of a spurious distinction between the political sphere (which conjures up seductive powers and lies) and the scientific sphere (which conjures up objective truths). In their view, this clear distinction militates against public opinion (the process of expressing collective desire) and reference (the process of "enrolment" of inanimate objects, such as technical innovations or natural phenomena). Politics should make use of these two means by distinguishing between them. If not, it will be paralysed by inextricable contradictions.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Lucien CLAES.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference IN021095).