Purpose: To show the convergences between Josef Mitterer’s non-dualizing way of speaking and actor-network theory. Method: Comparative analysis of Mitterer’s non-dualizing philosophy and actor-network philosophy. Findings: Profound convergences between the two accounts may lead to a unified account that could redefine traditional philosophical problems. Benefits: The paper extends the range of Mitterer’s non-dualizing philosophy and actor-network theory enabling both to face new problems. Among them, extended non-dualizing philosophy may undergo empirical investigations.

Key words: so far descriptions, from now on descriptions, dualism, actor-network theory

Purpose: The text searches for possible uses of a daring postulate to reject dualism, formulated by Josef Mitterer. Furthermore, it explores the inconsistencies of dualism and its remnants in three projects: Richard Rorty’s neopragmatism, the strong program of the sociology of knowledge, and radical constructivism. The final aim of the argument is to demonstrate that a very interesting incorporation of Mitterer’s postulates is possible, and that it must take the form of a consistent antiessentialism. At this point the article presents Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory. Findings: The article underlines the specific role of the so-called other side of the discourse – which, according to Mitterer is fabricated by the dualizing mode of speaking. Such an instance is a priori essentialized and it plays a crucial role as a tool for settling arguments. The text traces the role of this instance in the concepts mentioned above. Benefits: Through the use of Latour’s constructivism, the text indicates that there exists a fruitful empirical (non-speculative) research program, which was projected in accordance with Mitterer’s postulates.

Key words: criticism of dualism, anti-essentialism, neopragmatism, strong programme, radical constructivism, actor-network theory

A theory of the embodiment of action is proposed. Reflections on relations between human intentions, the human body and the notion of agency lead us to argue that phenomenological analysis is not sufficient for such a theory. Our consideration, that the most fundamental level of embodied agency is that of life itself, brings us to the philosophy of biology and the theory of the organism: briefly, certain parts of the natural environment are intrinsic to the constitution of organisms and, in their more sophisticated configuration, as agents. Action is embodied in the sense that certain physiological processes are internal in relation to it and play a constitutive role in its performance. The way in which environment, context and consciousness affect and constitute the nature of agency at personal and sub-personal levels is elaborated. We see that human agents perceive and act upon their world through a complex shifting between those levels. A summary of the ways in which the social sciences can be enriched by this more comprehensive view of human agency provides the basis of justification for claiming Actor-Network Theory (ANT), originally developed by sociologists studying science and technology, as a promising framework for the continuation of this reasoning.

Key words: actor network theory, agency, autopoiesis, consciousness, external scaffolding, intention, perception, phenomenology

The introduction of this article presents a sketch of the three main current versions of social constructivism (social epistemology, strong social constructivism, and social ontology) and of the historical background of social constructivism (Section Social Constructivism – Variants and Background). The following three sections outline these three approaches in some more detail and assess them briefly. Concerning social epistemology, veritistic and nonveritistic approaches to social epistemology are discussed (Sections Social Epistemology (Weak Social Constructivism), The Veritistic Approach to Social Epistemology, and Nonveritistic Approaches to Social Epistemology). Concerning strong social epistemology, views about ontology and the social are addressed (Sections Radical (Strong) Social Constructivism, Strong Social Constructivism and Ontology, and Strong Social Constructivism and the Social). And concerning social ontology, first a currently much debated specific example (social ontology in theories on international relations) and then the general approach to social ontology are characterized (Section Constructivism about the Social (Social Ontology), Constructivism and International Relations, and Nonveritistic Approaches to Social Epistemology).

Key words: actor network theory, constructivism, culture of knowledge, international relations, sociological analysis of science, social epistemology, social ontology, strong program of the sociology of science.

This paper analyses the paradigm of constructivism, relating it to current theoretical and empirical developments within social science. I am meeting the demand for describing social and cultural phenomena beyond correspondence-theoretical approaches by critically discussing various forms of constructivism and elaborating on the epistemological position of ‘The Social Construction of Reality’ (Berger & Luckmann). I argue that Berger and Luckmann are epistemologically ‘unscrupulously’ and, subsequently, show analytical weaknesses. This critical discussion forms the backdrop of an unfolding of the position of practice theories and a discussion of their innovative potential to social science research. In this context, the question of how to deal with media as artefacts and technologies is evaluated. I discuss this relationship and analyse it from a communication studies point of view, by means of two prominent analysis concepts, namely the ‘actor-network-theory’ of Bruno Latour and the ‘boundary objects’ approach of Susan Leigh Star from the field of science and technology studies. Finally, I outline central theoretical challenges and analytical perspectives for communication and media research.

Key words: Constructivism, practice theory, actor-network-theory, science and technology studies, boundary objects, communication analysis, media analysis

From a rural, sociological point of view no social theories have so far been able to grasp the ontological complexity and special character of a farm enterprise as an entity in a really satisfying way. The contention of this paper is that a combination of Luhmann’s theory of social systems and the actor-network theory (ANT) of Latour, Callon, and Law offers a new and radical framework for understanding a farm as a self-organizing, heterogeneous system. Luhmann’s theory offers an approach to understand a farm as a self-organizing system (operating in meaning) that must produce and reproduce itself through demarcation from the surrounding world by selection of meaning. The meaning of the system is expressed through the goals, values, and logic of the farming processes. This theory is, however, less useful when studying the heterogeneous character of a farm as a mixture of biology, sociology, technology, and economy. ANT offers an approach to focus on the heterogeneous network of interactions of human and non-human actors, such as knowledge, technology, money, farmland, animals, plants, etcetera, and how these interactions depend on both the quality of the actors and the network context of interaction. But the theory is weak when it comes to explaining the self-organizing character of a farm enterprise. Using Peirce’s general semiotics as a platform, the two theories in combination open a new and radical framework for multidisciplinary studies of farm enterprises that may serve as a platform for communication between the different disciplines and approaches.

Key words: Farm enterprise, actor-network theory, autopoietic social, self-organizing systems, systems semiotics

In two books the Austrian philosopher Josef Mitterer has developed a non-dualistic alternative to both realistic and idealistic positions. It dispenses with the categorical distinction between description and reality beyond description. In “The Third Philosophy,” scientists from the fields of philosophy, psychology, sociology, art history, media and communication studies and political science explore the potential of Mitterer’s criticism of dualistic thinking for key issues and open questions. The anthology brings together established names such as Volker Gadenne, Ernst von Glasersfeld, Walter Grasnick, Adolf Holl, Peter Janich, Konrad Paul Liessmann, Siegfried J. Schmidt, Peter Strasser and Peter Weibel and a young generation of scientists. These authors address issues such as the relation of non-duality to (radical) constructivism and its compatibility with the actor-network theory of Bruno Latour. The book is based on the special issue of Constructivist Foundations 3(3) dedicated to the work of Josef Mitterer.

Key words: Non-dualism, Mitterer

Open peer commentary on the article “Constructivism, Fast Thinking, Heuristics and Sustainable Development” by Hugh Gash. Abstract: We take a stance against radical constructivism as presented by Gash. Referring to Latour’s actor-network theory we argue in favor of relational ontologies associations with sustainability education, particularly in regard to an ontological shift towards hybrid forms of agency.

This article presents a discussion and a new theoretical model about how we adequately can describe education on the level of the classroom after the introduction of digital media and wireless networks. As its point of departure the article describes the contemporary situation within the classroom referring to research in Danish upper secondary schools. Then it discusses this situation in relation to medium theory and the education situation before digital media and wireless networks. After that the article provides a systems theoretical explanation following Niklas Luhmann and finds the theory’s explanatory power limited in relation to the new situation. Next the article introduces actor network theory following Bruno Latour to overcome the limits of Luhmann’s systems theory and reconstruct it framing a hybrid theory both sensitive to the new situation and able to observe it and analyze it adequately as historically linked to the old society. Exemplifying this hybrid theoretical model the article presents the action research project, Socio Media Education, showing pedagogical consequences and possibilities of the new media environment in relation to education. Finally we provide a conclusion on the contemporary situation of social media and the hybridization of

Key words: ANT, Action Research, Education, , media theory, society, systems theory, teaching