K. Barad proposes "agential realism" as a unified approach to natural and
social phenomena. The position is inspired by quantum mechanics and in
particular the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. Barad also sees similarities
between her approach, N. Bohr's view and C. Rovelli's relational quantum
mechanics. In our view, agential realism is a kind of ontological
correlationism, not a realism. The analogy with the Bohr and Rovelli approaches
is only partial. Agential realism is a wrong interpretation of quantum
mechanics. It is also unsuitable for social theorizing, for which taking into
account the sensitivity of ontology to the context is fundamental. As an
alternative, we propose a contextual quantum realism that rejects substantive
dualisms (as does Barad), but at the same time accepts the categorical dualism
of the real and the ideal. Our approach also allows one to better understand
Bohr's position and to correct Rovelli's relational quantum mechanics.Comment: 5 page