Of particles and humans: the question of ‘human being’ in Alexander Wendt’s Quantum mind and social science

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.