On the modern cult of the factish gods
Book Description
In this thought-provoking exploration, renowned anthropologist and philosopher Bruno Latour challenges our fundamental assumptions about the nature of belief, truth, and spiritual practice. Building on his groundbreaking work examining how we understand modernity, Latour introduces the concept of "factishes" to bridge the apparent divide between scientific facts and religious fetishes.
At the heart of this inquiry lies a fascinating paradox: while modern thinkers dismiss religious objects as mere fabrications, they simultaneously treat scientific facts as if they exist independently of human creation. Latour reveals how both scientific knowledge and sacred objects are constructed through human activity, yet both possess genuine power and meaning in their respective contexts.
Through his innovative lens of "iconoclash," Latour draws unexpected connections between laboratory practices and religious devotion, showing how both scientists and spiritual practitioners engage with objects that are simultaneously made and real. This perspective offers readers a fresh way to understand their own relationship with both material and spiritual realities.
Rather than dismissing either scientific or religious approaches to truth, Latour invites us to recognize the creative processes behind all forms of knowledge and belief. For those seeking to integrate rational inquiry with spiritual understanding, this work provides valuable insights into how we might honor both the objectivity of facts and the transformative power of sacred objects without falling into naive thinking about either.
This concise yet profound examination opens new pathways for understanding the intersection of science, spirituality, and human meaning-making.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 157 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Fetishism
- ✓ Explore Fetishism (Psychiatric)
- ✓ Explore Iconoclasm
- ✓ Explore Religions
- ✓ Explore Religion and science
- ✓ Explore Cultural psychiatry
- ✓ Explore Psychiatrie
