ABSTRACT
It is a myth that scientific theories somehow appear out of thin air, gain wide acceptance and thereby change the world. 'Actors' refer to the movers and shakers in the scientific world, those who contribute to research. Most research funding comes directly or indirectly from government. As representatives of the public, politicians form a significant class of actors in scientific research. Science is more than just a provider of gadgets and consumer electronics. The technological side of science is of immediate importance, not only for the benefit of a few wealthy nations, but also for the wellbeing and perhaps a matter of life and death of the whole planet. Traditionally the world is everything and nature is everything outside of human beings. In the case of human beings and other animate objects, there are many instances of choices or patterns of behaviour which are as a result of natural causes.
