Heard about this on the New Books Network podcasts (which I love). LeCain argues that we need to expand the range of things we study to understand humans, with examples like gut bacteria and longhorn cattle. The point of his “New Material Humanism” is to set limits around social/cultural construction and make space for the effects of materiality. Could be an interesting idea to use in the analysis of sociotechnical systems.
http://www.timothyjameslecain.com/the-matter-of-history
Perhaps of interest to @Gforero? Interested to hear anyone’s thoughts.
New books network interview is here: