Of Particles and Humans: the Question of ‘Human Being’ in Alexander Wendt’s Quantum Mind and Social Science
| DOI | 10.1177/0305829818781692 |
| Author | Torsten Michel |
| Published date | 01 September 2018 |
| Date | 01 September 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Forum: Social Theory Going Quantum-Theoretic? Questions, Alternatives and Challenges |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0305829818781692
Millennium: Journal of
International Studies
2018, Vol. 47(1) 114 –127
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0305829818781692
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Of Particles and Humans: the
Question of ‘Human Being’ in
Alexander Wendt’s Quantum
Mind and Social Science
Torsten Michel
University of Bristol, UK
Keywords
ontology, consciousness, reflexivity, ontological difference
Mots-clés
ontologie, conscience, réflexivité, différence ontologique.
Palabras clave
ontología, consciencia, reflexividad, diferencia ontológica
Drawing on quantum theory, Alexander Wendt’s Quantum Mind and Social Science sug-
gests a thought-provoking reorientation of the social sciences. Addressing some of the
key assumptions in Wendt’s account, this article argues that despite a quite elaborate and
eloquent development of a monist ontological position, conceptual discussions remain
solely focused on the nature of beings and neglect wider implications for the nature of
being, particularly human being, that arise out of its abandonment of a substance ontol-
ogy. To develop such a critique, I will first address some preliminary considerations
about the broader assumptions underlying Wendt’s argument. Secondly, the article zooms
in on the central concern arising out of Wendt’s approach regarding the conceptualisation
of human being before raising a set of critical remarks, which need further deliberation
if a quantum approach to the social sciences is to be successful.
Corresponding author:
Torsten Michel, University of Bristol, School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS),
11 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK.
Email: torsten.michel@bristol.ac.uk
781692MIL0010.1177/0305829818781692Millennium: Journal of International StudiesMichel
research-article2018
Forum: Social Theory Going Quantum-Theoretic? Questions,
Alternatives and Challenges
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