Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion
The aim of the dissertation is to examine the mechanisms at work when networks are formed and risk constructions made as bodies encounter frontline technology within the food sector. The concept of technoscience TS, is the link uniting the escalating technology of risk society, rebellious nature and...
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Stockholms universitet, Ekonomisk-historiska institutionen
2005
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Online Access: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-716 http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:isbn:91-85445-16-9 |
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ndltd-UPSALLA1-oai-DiVA.org-su-7162013-01-08T13:09:21ZNyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktionsweMolin, LenaStockholms universitet, Ekonomisk-historiska institutionenStockholm2005tehnosciencehybridcyborgrisknetworkANTactantpigcowbacteriasituatednatureconstruction of naturebodytransgressionconstruction of scientific factstruthscientific processknowledge productionrisk constructionbiotechnologyfunctional foodsfood sectorhigh technologyalliancesinnovationEconomic historyEkonomisk historiaThe aim of the dissertation is to examine the mechanisms at work when networks are formed and risk constructions made as bodies encounter frontline technology within the food sector. The concept of technoscience TS, is the link uniting the escalating technology of risk society, rebellious nature and the insidious threats of substances absorbed straight into the metabolism of our bodies through the food that we eat. The TS viewpoint is complemented by a short overview of Beck’s theory about the risk society, in order to explain how research creates risks rather than removing them. The four case studies are all concrete manifestations of technoscience. They are: 1) a study of the alliance between a research company and a bacteria culture, 2) the section about the Gaio controversy and the creation of scientific facts, 3) the case of the scientist and high-ranking official who was sued for defamation of the Danish pig, 4) and finally the scandal of the meat-eating cows. We can observe, aided by Bruno Latour, how particularly in the first two stories, the importance of networks becomes apparent. How network analysis can be a tool for understanding the high-tech development of the food industry in the late 20th century as stories of how scientific claims – or “truths” – are reconstituted and transformed. We are also able to observe how truth is dependent on our own viewpoint, in Donna Haraway’s word it is “situated” or context dependent. The case studies are also examples of the links between body, technology and risk. Because they deal with the food product trade, the link to the body becomes obvious as dangerous food products are absorbed into the body through the food and is spread through the metabolism. The thing that sets risk construction in the use of high-tech production methods in the food trade apart from other areas is the meeting or confrontation between the man-made advanced technology and the limits determined by “nature” through the body. The linking of technology and the human body becomes particularly exciting as we notice that no matter how advanced the technology that has been used to produce a food product, it is still there to be eaten and absorbed by the metabolism of our bodies. In this area of uncertainty the dividing line between the possible and the impossible is fuzzy and changing. Doctoral thesis, monographinfo:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesistexthttp://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-716urn:isbn:91-85445-16-9Stockholm Studies in Economic History, 0346-8305 ; 46application/pdfinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
collection |
NDLTD |
language |
Swedish |
format |
Doctoral Thesis |
sources |
NDLTD |
topic |
tehnoscience hybrid cyborg risk network ANT actant pig cow bacteria situated nature construction of nature body transgression construction of scientific facts truth scientific process knowledge production risk construction biotechnology functional foods food sector high technology alliances innovation Economic history Ekonomisk historia |
spellingShingle |
tehnoscience hybrid cyborg risk network ANT actant pig cow bacteria situated nature construction of nature body transgression construction of scientific facts truth scientific process knowledge production risk construction biotechnology functional foods food sector high technology alliances innovation Economic history Ekonomisk historia Molin, Lena Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
description |
The aim of the dissertation is to examine the mechanisms at work when networks are formed and risk constructions made as bodies encounter frontline technology within the food sector. The concept of technoscience TS, is the link uniting the escalating technology of risk society, rebellious nature and the insidious threats of substances absorbed straight into the metabolism of our bodies through the food that we eat. The TS viewpoint is complemented by a short overview of Beck’s theory about the risk society, in order to explain how research creates risks rather than removing them. The four case studies are all concrete manifestations of technoscience. They are: 1) a study of the alliance between a research company and a bacteria culture, 2) the section about the Gaio controversy and the creation of scientific facts, 3) the case of the scientist and high-ranking official who was sued for defamation of the Danish pig, 4) and finally the scandal of the meat-eating cows. We can observe, aided by Bruno Latour, how particularly in the first two stories, the importance of networks becomes apparent. How network analysis can be a tool for understanding the high-tech development of the food industry in the late 20th century as stories of how scientific claims – or “truths” – are reconstituted and transformed. We are also able to observe how truth is dependent on our own viewpoint, in Donna Haraway’s word it is “situated” or context dependent. The case studies are also examples of the links between body, technology and risk. Because they deal with the food product trade, the link to the body becomes obvious as dangerous food products are absorbed into the body through the food and is spread through the metabolism. The thing that sets risk construction in the use of high-tech production methods in the food trade apart from other areas is the meeting or confrontation between the man-made advanced technology and the limits determined by “nature” through the body. The linking of technology and the human body becomes particularly exciting as we notice that no matter how advanced the technology that has been used to produce a food product, it is still there to be eaten and absorbed by the metabolism of our bodies. In this area of uncertainty the dividing line between the possible and the impossible is fuzzy and changing. |
author |
Molin, Lena |
author_facet |
Molin, Lena |
author_sort |
Molin, Lena |
title |
Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
title_short |
Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
title_full |
Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
title_fullStr |
Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
title_sort |
nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : en technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion |
publisher |
Stockholms universitet, Ekonomisk-historiska institutionen |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-716 http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:isbn:91-85445-16-9 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT molinlena nyttigabakterierochsjukadjurentechnoscienceresafrannatverksbildningtillriskkonstruktion |
_version_ |
1716510331160756224 |