Ordering hope : representations of xenotransplantation : an actor/actant network theory account
This thesis elaborates an Actor Network Theory account of the representations through which 'xenotransplantation' (a key facet of the 'new medical biologies') is narrated and extended. In particular, I address the performance (and distribution) of hope across and between xenotransplantation's key network participants. As both a means and a perimeter of network organisation, the temporal dimensions of ordering carry implications for the formation and implementation of Science Studies theory too. ANT, for example, has evolved in relation to a panoply of mainly spatial metaphors (spaces, topologies, differences and similarities etc.). This thesis, by contrast, has sought to respond to the temporal terms of reference which populate representations of xenotransplantation. Amongst other things, competing hopes, desires, right and wrong times, continuities and discontinuities all serve as the principal discursive means through which network management is exercised. My suggestion is that representations of time, as well as the timing of representations, are vital to understanding the production of networks. Also, such terms map onto the many other sense making boundaries which are evoked and challenged through the
Brown, Nicholas G. F.
Philosophy
Ordering hope : representations of xenotransplantation : an actor/actant network theory account. This thesis elaborates an Actor Network Theory account of the representations through which 'xenotransplantation' (a key facet of the 'new medical biologies') is narrated and extended. In particular, I address the performance (and distribution) of hope across and between xenotransplantation's key network participants. As both a means and a perimeter of network organisation, the temporal dimensions of ordering carry implications for the formation and implementation of Science Studies theory too. ANT, for example, has evolved in relation to a panoply of mainly spatial metaphors (spaces, topologies, differences and similarities etc.). This thesis, by contrast, has sought to respond to the temporal terms of reference which populate representations of xenotransplantation. Amongst other things, competing hopes, desires, right and wrong times, continuities and discontinuities all serve as the principal discursive means through which network management is exercised. My suggestion is that representations of time, as well as the timing of representations, are vital to understanding the production of networks. Also, such terms map onto the many other sense making boundaries which are evoked and challenged through the
ordering hope representation actor network theory account elaborates actor_network theory account representation key facet new medical biology narrate extend particular address performance distribution hope across key network participant mean network organisation temporal dimension order carry implication formation implementation science studies theory too ant example evolve relation mainly spatial_metaphor space topology difference_similarity etc contrast seek respond temporal term reference populate representation amongst thing compete hope desire right_wrong time continuity_discontinuity serve principal discursive mean network management exercise suggestion representation time well time representation vital production network also term map onto many sense make boundary evoke challenge