Bruno Latour, Aramis, or the Love of Technology, PDF - Dss-edit.com

there was a bit of that-was not pursued vigorously enough to let usdesignate a mastermind or a bad guy. Lined up together, all theaccusations-and there were many, some of them pretty potent-canceleach other out. From the standpoint of justice-even from thestandpoint of the immanent justice that has you all sweating a little,that of the Budget Office-there would be a finding of no cause."Yet the good intentions drifted. Aramis died in 1987, Aramiscame back to life in 1984, it didn't take place, it did take place."We are gathered this evening around Aramis, around an objectthat did not take place but that was not without object. The proof isthat we all loved it. I myself am an outsider in the world of guidedtransportation, and I too have been susceptible to the contagion. I don'tmind telling you all that I really loved it. I shed real tears as I followedthe ups and downs of this being that asked to exist, to whom youoffered existence."If Aramis didn't exist, it would have to be invented. If Aramishad not tried to exist, it would have had to be invented. If you had nottried to invent it, you would have fai led in your mission. Anyone whodoes not feel this every single day, taking the metro or getting into anautomobile or swearing in a traffic jam, is not part of our circle, hasno claim on our attention."Yet we were wrong, we made mistakes, we misled one another.Where is the error? Where is the crime? Maybe the question needs tobe put differently: Where is the sin?"Aramis has been fragile from the outset-we all know that; notfragile in just one respect, in one weak link, as with other innovations,but fragile on all points. It is limited-"hyperrefined," as you put it.The demand for it is undefined, the feasibility of the vehicle is uncertain,its costs are variable, its operating conditions are chancy, its politicalsupport--like all political support -is inconsistent. It innovates in allrespects at once-motor, casing, tracks, chips, site, hyperfrequencies,doors, signal systems, passenger behavior. And beyond all this, it ishypersensitive to variations in its environment. A case of shilly-shallying:the history of Aramis is proof. Not one ministerial portfolio has changedhands without Aramis' coughing and catching cold.--------- ---- ---EPllOGLE: