Gilbert Simondon Being and Technology Edited by Arne De Boever, Alex Murray, Jon Roffe and Ashley Woodward EDINBURGH University Pressvn Achy Weer 3013 2013 esther eel tre Sure, Ebr BB SLE Fst pbs ia ark by Elburn Pr 20 orci ty Se meting Li, Seshpore, Chee, ad Pel an and Gre any EnGeoup (te, Cregdon ROY ISBN 9780 7486 48251 dk) BAN 9780 Pe 7214 leon ISIN 9790 Pate 44251 feral PDP) ISBN 9780 Dae $179 ep ISIN 9780 Pte 8781 Laren cook) te ie of he tbs i ht x utr of his work tbe stl in scedans t (he Copy, Dogs an aes Ar 1988 Contents Albrevatons| dios’ Introduction: Simondon, Finally ‘Arne De Boeve, Alex Musray, Jon Roffeand Ashley Woodard ‘Technical Mentality Gilbert Simandon, translated by Arne De Bocver Expliatons 2 “Technical Mentality” Revisited: Brian Massumi on Gilbert Simondon With Ame De Boever, Alex Murray and Jon Roffe 3. entity and Inivduation: Some Feminist Reflections Elzabeth Grose 4. Crystals and Membranes: Individation and Temporlty Ane Samagnargues ansated by Jom Roffe Implications Sr The Question of Ansity in Gilber Simondon Igor Kvtolica, nanaated by Jon Roffe {6 Infa-Poychi Individualiztion: Tansductive Connections and the Genesis of Living Technics Marie Pier Boucher 7. ‘Du mort gut ast le vif: Simondonian Ontology Today Jean-Hygus Barthélemy, translated by Justin Clemens 8, The Aesthetics of Gilbert Simondon: Anicipacion of the Contemporary Acthetic Experience ‘Yoes Michaud, translated by Justin Clemens 19 ” 7 8 2 10 m‘naprer 1 Technical Mentality! Gilbert Simondon, translated by Arne De Boever? “This chapter is noe concerned with ontology but with axology. Ie aims to show that there exists a technical mentality, and that this mentality i ‘evelping, ands therefore incomplete and a risk of being prematurely ‘considered as monstrous and unbalanced, I requires a preliminary ati te of generosity cowards the onder of elit that seeks to manifest, Iecaus this incomplete genesis brings into play values that a general refusal ff this mentality] would condemn to ignorance and would ae eating ‘We wil try co show that the technical mentality x coherent, positive, productive i the domain ofthe cognitive schemas, but incomplete and In conic with itself in che domain ofthe affective categories beens hae not yet properly emergeds and finally, that witout wniky a is almost entirely eo be construed within the onder of he wil COGNITIVE SCHEMAS “The theoretical domain was the sto emerge in Westen civilzations, the ese wo have been theorized, sjtematized and formalized, Kha led to productive constructions and i presents in iself a method of discov= ‘ryan interpretation that can be generalize In this seme, the technical ‘mentality offers a mode of knowledge st generis that essentally uses the analogical transfer and the paradigm, and founds tl onthe discovery ‘of common modes of functioning o of regime of operation ~in other- wise diferent orders fealty tha are chosen just as well rom the living forthe inert from the human or the non-human Leaving Antiquity aside, technology has aleeady yielded in a leas to ways schemas of inelligiiliy char are endowed with latent power ‘of universaley: namely, in the form ofthe Cartesian mechanism and of ‘ybermetie theory.£_utbert simondon: Being and Technology In the Cartesian mechanism, the fundamental operation ofthe simple ‘machine is anagous co the fanctioning of lial thought capable of bing rigorous and productive. A simple machine i a transee stem that, in che particule ease in which the movement is presumed to he reversible, in the state of equilibrium, establishes the deny of a work ‘hat puts into motion anda work tha resis, each pec of the machine ‘series out this ranfer rigorously, the numberof pees can be whatever iat changes is merely the diection of forces ~ with the pulley ~ or the factors (force and movement) of prodst that remains constant, 43 in the case ofthe palley-lock. The rational mental process returns the esence of the customary technical objets to this transfer ahem ‘hain isan enchainmen of lnk, withthe second lnk being fied tthe frst jus asthe ists Ried 0 the anchoring rng. The transfer of forces _0es from lnk co link, so that if each Tn i welded wel and there are no gaps in the enchainmet, che lst ink is xe tothe anchoring pot in a more mediated but also more rigorous way than the fst. A Dad ing, stone upon stone, row upon row, transfer of the ‘erm guid st inconeussum~theresintance ofthe stan of the foundations athe ‘way othe tp, through sucesive levels that each acts asthe found "on for the immediately following higher level. This negli of the teaser without losses that mechanizes ideally and analogialy (bu aso in reality, by wire of the Cartesian conception of knowledge) all he ‘ode ofthe eal, applies not ony tothe RES EXTENSA but also tothe [RES COGITANS: the fon chains of reason” ciey out a transpot of "desc fom the premises othe coaclason, jst like x chain cates ot {transfer of fores from the anchoring point tothe lat link The rules ‘ofthe method are not oaly ispiced by mathematics they abo prety conform to the efferent stages of fabrication and technieal control ‘Thought neds an anchoring point thai the operative equivalent ofthe stone under the bulings oF ofthe ving that aac Yo the eign of ‘he chains certum guid ef inconcuscunt es evident what temaine aot allattemps at deconstraction, even after hyperbolic doubt, The condct of reasoning requires an analjis 2 division ofthe dificuly ino a8 many pars as possible and as need in onde to beter solve the fe «alty because each pice ofthe inet montage mus play simple, tnivocalrole= like 2 pully, a ever of which the mechanical function the wholes simple nd perfectly clear. The thi rule (othe sythesis oF the onder i the arrangement according tothe schema the completely unfed whole of che machine. Finally the fourth ale that of como i {the unification of the placement ofthe difetent pies andthe adapation ‘ofthe machine aa whole ro the ewo reales at both ends ofthe chain, Technical Mentality 3 Consrcton of ian cholo of izle nih trodes Sunicen Spereatummrmarte cer 1 nase ity dtc frm the wl of wiheS eee One ay ‘echnical objet can be repaired it can be completed a simple analogy beeween the echnical objet and the ving i fallacious inthe sense that, atthe moment ofits very construction, che echical objets conceived 2s something thar may need contol cepa and maintenance, cough ‘esting and modification, or iF necessary, a compete change of one ot Several ofthe subsets thar compose Thi is what one calls anticipated “imantenance’, rouse the Anglo-Saxon term "This postulate is extremely important whea one questions the way in hich One can engage with living being, a human being or an inst tution. The holistic postulate, whichis often presented as an atitde of respect for lie, a person or the integrity of tradition, perhaps merely a lazy way out. To accep o reject a being wholesale, because it ia whole, perhaps to avoid adopting towards tthe more genesous atu: namely, tha of earful examination. A ral technical seid ‘would be more refined than the easy fundamentalism of 3 moral joc tment and of sie. The distinction of the subses and ofthe modes of {ei elative solidarity would thus be the fis mental work tha aught by the cognitive conten ofthe technical mentality." 2. The second postulate is chat of the levels andthe rpimes fone wants to understand a being completly, ome rust study it by conser: lng nit entelechy, and notin onactoty Or te stat state, “The majority of technical realities are subjece to the existence of 3 tiveshold to stat up and to maintain their own Functioning above his threshold hey ate absurd seltdestrctives below i they ae self stable Very often, the invention consist in supposing the coins of their functioning eelzed~ in ssposing the threshold problem resolved. This is why the majority of inventions proceed by condensation and conse ‘zation, by reducing the numberof primitive elements to @ minimum, which ig atthe same rime an optimus Such she case, for example, with the tato-eactor of Lec. On the ‘round, i is merely an absurd structure, incapable of providing a push ina determinate dzetion; but starting from 2 certain speed of move ment, it hecomes capable of maitaining its sped ~ in other words, ts Pushing forward ~ and of furnishing a usable energy of movement. “The GUIMIBAL group ~ehich il entirely inthe forced conduc of 4 dam originally semed absurd. The alternators of sch smal dimen ‘Sons thae ie seme thatthe armature ust be destroyed by the Joule ee. Betis precisely hi small mension that allows forthe ler {or be lodged completly within the canaization, on che turbine axis isl. This ensuees a cooling that has a considerably greater effet than tha of an aleaor placed in the at. This disposition is made possible ty ping he lemator in casing fled wih oi, which bghens the lon ad improve che tera exchange athe we ensuring the Taian ofthe dierent cl sd preventing water fom coming in here the malfunctions haracter of the al ofthe easing the ery Schema of conretzaton that make the aventon exit 8 rene of Taal is possible oantiiatethe exitene, within flr ent odes of realty of seta effet asd hee ab the expressions “The Raman eflet-th Compton fle’) tat order exiece requ icrminatethrsblds to be croued Tse effets are not hing they imply a thet condo, the exten ofcetai sures. An eral Combustion engine that rune off ia stablestte and cannot um ‘salon nec a crain amount of energy coming from ouside i needs to estve a ceria angle speed inorder to each the thresh [Toetemaimenace the heold beyond which funciony a eine Sr sutomatsm wth each phage of fey preparing the condions of Sompeton fr dhe allowing pase rom these few observations, we can conchae that che technical nema sveady offers coherent and usable schemas fora cognitive Imerpcaon, With the Caresan mechanism and beret bas ‘realy yielded to movements of hoa: ba ia the case when thre isn awarene afte sytemace se of the to potas presented “hones abo appears to be capable of contributing fo the foemarion of inne schema AFFECTIVE MODALITIES “The pict is mach les cleat, however, a 3000 36 one tries to analyse llective contents In this ate, one encounters an antagonism between the atisonal and the industrial modalities, an antagonism chat spared to am impossibility of completely separating these two aspects. The {raftmat's nostalgia traverses aot only the ndusteal ie of production, ‘bu also the ferent dil regimes of he consumption of goods coming from the indunil world Tes fc to return bundle of perfectly coherent and unified tests tothe opposition between the aisanal andthe industrial mosaity when fone wats o account forthe genesis of affective modalities. However, ‘ne wll propose a criterion tha afer several attempts, seemed 1 be the Teas problematic: inthe ete of the craftsman, all conditions depend on the human being; the source of energy the same as that of information, "The nwo sources are both in the human operator. There, energy is ikeey the availabilty ofthe gesture, the exercise of muscular force informa "ion simultaneously resides the human operator as sornehing eared sawn from the individual past enriched by education, and asthe staal exercise ofthesensoval equipment that contolsand regulates the appli ‘ation ofthe learned gestures tothe concrete materiality ofthe workable ‘material and tothe particular characteristics ofthe am [ofthe work) The manipulation is earred out according to continuous schemas on welts that ae ofthe same sale as the operator, Corelatvely, the distance heeween the ace of working and the conditions of use ofthe product ofthe work is weak- The shormaker has directly taken the measurements the sadder knows for which horse he is working Recurrence possible; the speed with which the abject wears of the ‘ypes of deformation of the product daring usage are known to the raftsman, who not only constructs but also repairs Moreover, in the ease ofthe craftman, the relation between the Human Being and Natuee is immediate, because i lis in che choice ofthe materials and ofthe work thats done on them. Inthe artisanal ‘modalicy, work sarc; i orders and makes act differently workable materials chat are almost primary materials, bor that remain close to the natural state ike leather oe wood. Artisanal work s generally not preceded by a complete ansformation ofthese primary materia. The Tater woul requite the investment of sources of energy taken from ‘outside ofthe human boy In this sease, such a transformation comes even inthe pre-industrial sate ~ from a instil schema namely thar of metallrgy, which i indsral through the teansformation ‘the mineral into metal, even f remains artisanal besause ofthe way it produces obj, “The industrial modality appears when the source of information and the source of enengy separate: namely, when the Human Being is merely the source of information, and Nature ts requited co furnish ‘he energy. The machine i diferent fom the rol in tha itis a rlay: it has ovo aliferent entry pont, that of energy and that of inform Yion. The fabricated product that i yields isthe fst ofthe modula tion ofthis energy thtough ei information, the fect thats practised ‘ona workable material Inthe ease of the tool, whih is handheld the etry of energy and the entry of information are mixed, or at the very least partially superimposed, OF course ne can guide the chisel ofthe sculptor with one hand, and pash i with te ether, butts the same body that harmonizes the two handy and single nervous system that appropriates ther movement into such deal fom the material and for the set aim, Moreover the porter’ work, whichis moved by his fet, chnical Mentality 7 ‘+ silo the same Kin, ba it allows one vo amit the inh ofthe ‘racine. Glassmaking arvana nso faa the las-maer fies the cree that labs the ial buble by blowing. audi 9 far 2s te cpt trough tert of is blowing the ped ofthe pase dltcaton of the lat. But becomes industrial when the ene is teortowed rom a compro When be borrows cue fom 9 mstrl sore, che bom being discovers an infin serv ond comes to poset a considerable powes For ts posable ost ups srs of reas, which mean hat weak coer can ead othe ug of considerable energies” ‘Unforeath, he eny of information thar comes at the work it longer unig nthe way & wh he atsanal pests happens ‘ino several moments at several lvl takes placate ‘whch vention ofthe wacine~an invention ta omens implies the binging leo ply of considerable sone of Knowledge aod the fathering of lange numberof man bing happens seconde ‘ish eh contraction af be mache and the epulston ofthe ahi, Which are modes of asvty dat ase ire foo the machine’ tage. Pally hapene third and ford ine in aring {fo work withthe machine and then ithe machine’ sage, Whereas the mochie cones comple tecnica hema, atthe ron ‘tae adh aan eg te seo oman and ergy operating on mei one ofthe four moments of ifort onbuton organi inked oad balanced ut by the ters The ‘tot intormation omtbaton bcos votes exploded io Separate moment elem on by separate individuals groups In oder forte crafman to recognize hr equivalent nthe india modal ity these man cing mst be inventor, onstrctor and operator. weve the fc of the smpitcaton aed complaton of chee ‘al word io spread ou the ferent ce from cach xin nly the source of informatio from the wore of energy andthe source of primary materia bu even te diferent asks of information coeribr fon Ws tha a weaker pat ofthe ol capac ofthe haan eng tha engaged in he nda ct, be when ele operstor and Inc finan coi. The ere a gm. tay regime of the tank ofthe operator in instil production an “cntony of wort that provoler dren fee of oda aia Ber ssn hn sn vat ho ricipaig in conacton and operation, The gue ofthe unhappy favenor came about atthe same tne ay that of the dehumatd worden its cormertype and ae toms seca. To pt© _Lomtpert SImondon: Being and Technology Technical Mentality 9 itself atthe dimension ofthe machine's energy entry, the information ‘try complicates itself, becomes divided and specialize withthe elt thar che human being is isolated noe only fom nature bat also from himselt, and enclosed in piecemeal tasks, even at inventor, He thus encounters the daconinuous through work. However trying o ream to diety artisanal meso production is am illsion, The needs of contemporary societies require not only lage ‘quanies of products and manufactured objects but also states that ‘annot be obraned by means of the human body and bythe tool. This ' because the temperatures, the pressures, the cequied physical eae” "on, the sale of the conditions do not match those of human fe The workplace, on the other hand is a human envizonment. Its in this very emphasis on industrial production, in the deepening ‘of ies characteristics, that an overcoming ofthe antithesis berwecn the artisanal modality and he industal one can bested with a ereater likeibood of sucess. And this not oaly generally and superically but also by means of what, within the industrial organization ofthe prodace ‘on, has pushed to its extreme limits che specialized fragmentation of human information conebution: the rationalization of work tvough 3 series of methods of which Taylors was the is. VOLUNTARY ACTION: 4 STUDY OF NORMS Bue we must cur shore here the consideration ofthe fective modalities in order to investigate norms of voluntary action, and thus to complete this construction ofthe echnical mentality. Indeed the technical men tality an be developed into schemes of action and into values othe Point of yielding morality in human environments that ae ently Sedicted to industrial production. Buti so fe as thee environments remain separate from the socal eld of che wage of procs as they themselves remain feagmented into several specalied groups by thei diferent functions of information conbution to machines mastery, technicians, workers hey cannot elaborate aval code that is capable of becoming universal because they do not have the expe ‘nce of technical reality asa whole, The echnocrati attitude canmor be sniversalzed because t consists of reinventing the world like nate field for the penetration of machines; constructing 4 metal tower ot an immense bridge undoubredly means making a pioneer work and showing how industrial power ean leave the factory in ordet to gam nature, but theres something ofthe isolation of the inventor that ub sists in this activity ins fara the owe o the bridge dows not become part of newor covering the Earth in mazes, i accordance wih the qropopicelsoucure ad Uving poses of ts Barth. The GL Tomer andthe Gabi vada inet be considered athe ral ofthe en ofthe india concenaton around votes of egy peimary marcia outcast say nwa spcacltiy aed one acd ecco, but a the fet mate 2 al cron. The Ei Tower which vas etiely designed and fabcaed the factory ind only assed on ste wthoura single conecon, ba now become the carr of sel lereomecs th bended of pylons, mas tnd sons by which Europe wl be covee. Ir bcones par ofthe tmalfantional ator that rk the Key pons of the pogrphica din human woe Ie the sandadton ofthe sobs the indo poiiy of the production af paras pees tha av a alt, tha lows forthe Creation of networks When one pts aod ack over hundreds af idometery, when on coef cable from cyto cy snd rometines from conient to continent, ithe dsl modality chat aes leave fro he india cenit onder co extern lf hgh are. tora question ere ofthe ape of nature or fhe vitor ofthe Homan ting over the lent, buchen fcr ts the natural rears he sve that serve as the aachnet pot forthe neework hat is ing developed te ray pons ofthe Hern ‘abe for esa, eon Wik Oc hgh sexo ancient sacredness above he flys andthe soe Hee the techaical mena sucearlly completes alan jas a ya nin io hae a Concptalsytss of pareulry and concentration, idaty Su eltny~ baat the ete fons of che networt aval tach ne oft pons a ns ar woven rgeter with thot of the worl inthe concrete and he particular “he cae of information networks soo peak, an idea cate where the voc ir vty coplanar exergy sd teetion ‘ve unl gain afte having een separated i the instal pase. At the same tne, te sveblages and te sobs of heads "Ssomam erm in amore manageable way, ee form elses ie and tecommuniations tse reduced ynnages, moderate energie, Shseion ha eo cathing. The factory eacover sorting of te workplace when i i tandocned iso 3 labors. Iie ionger forthe individ! sera in the acsual moay, Bt forthe Simstaneuny ellie and individual war ~ are fel = hat the intorstory snips ¢sadevortaore esenblape Sach Hes of polos, sch a cha of ele conte the hare of ear. OnlyTy euperr oumoncon: Being’ RET NNORER PRETTY ie ripening papel peered wn radeon -a we Serena fn eee ied eee cnestneenae tiles Sey seearenrrieny perenne oma ioe anne acetate oe panos olse lg ra antunscloeiemenee thee Baga cy ome vit sana hess en dee mee meets ee ial wh hon el Cri Gc i peaennccnm amit on wich stow forthe tconeton nd norman doteron ane ee ee ee oe eee wading pom ssc aon ec ee ee eee eet eee te Seterees ne neeaeinte ome oy eabornrpeirg paneer pereter ar foram eke ence Sen gmat ii appre a gama ay sci rn heme ea ‘Sentenced acct neticit ete tm ecstasy clea din fom ron whch ae aokeseh emenpnmnecntarateet ee iecmeainerenemneacenitren an Selatan to hidet reese eictioes oe Pee rapes mene peru rem i of coy af teint eee heen ak ees baton py meeaperneert ty capaci at ecmncetved arcmin to ae ee ees sein ercan teat incpnea susie wn ee eee oleae picnic roy arene eer geri eee ty hor pahunl aber nh ees ies Sos ge han epoca ther pancho Technical Mentality 11 cally gone though more important ransformations than the car. This it Ica the pane is made forthe euay and forthe aie. eis ecesaily 4 network reality before being a separate objet. The cris conceived not only as a network realty ~ like tucks ~ but asa social object, an ic of clothing in which che wer presents himself. Rhus reeves cha ‘cers ike the ones one wed fo west oa cates and that overbur ‘ened chem with ae and embroideries. these scale-ike ormaments of psychosocial life —hete, they become pant, chrome, aerial. The soil Importance can also express itself through mass, volume an the sie of the vehicle “To bring about the production of the tehaical mentality inthe domain of voluntary choice one could ty to apply the categories of a common ethis ofthe ration between human beings for example, the “ategory of sincerity. A car deteriorates quickly because it wae made 0 Te scen eather than to be ase the space taken up by the width of the soot is aot protected against ust; the underside Is not teated accord ing to the principles of aerodynamics whereas the visible pars are abundantly profiled, ‘Bethe essential i oe thee, andthe introduction of a duaist moral system of good and evil of the hidden and the manifest, would not lead one very fa. To find real norms inthis domain, one esteem towards the cognitive schemas that have already heen drawa out, and Jsk oneself how they can respond to the exigency manifested by the pressing incoherence ofthe affective modalities. “The reason for the essential character of technical objects, which is atthe same time the cause of this inflation of obsolescence that as hit the population of produced objets, isthe absence of an industrial deepening of production. “Acar becomes obsolete very fast Because i snot one and the same act of invention, constraction and prodaction that simultaneously rakes the road network and the cas appeae. Between the netwod this fanetional harness of the geographical world and the cats that teayerse this network, the human being insets imselfasa viewal buyers {car only comes to fntion is ough it chosen, afer i has been produced, Tere ia recurence that comes into ply om the basis ofthis mediation. The constructor, who has to produce serially, needs to calculate the possibilses of sales; nor only must he simultaneously construct the netork and the cars, but he also has to anticipate this Sales option In order tobe valuable a ear must be boughe ater hang teen constructed, like the Roman child who was put into the world by the mother but was only admitted vo life ater elvatio. One could alsocompare this alienated condition ofthe produced objet in the situation ‘of venalty to that of a slave on the market in Antiquity, of to that of | woman ina stuaton of social inferior the intodoton to active «aistence happens through means that ae inadequate tothe real func ‘ons. Itakes place agains entlechy and thus creates a duality a prev lence ofthe essential, a distortion of tue nature choice is made unr the dubinas influence of charm, prestige, Hatery ofall the socal mths ‘or of personal faiths. Inthe inssenial station of the buyer whois either a constructor nora ser in at, the human being who chooses, Incroduces into his choice 2 bundle of non-echnical norms, Ie the anticipation in the project of production, ofthe play ofthese notes that eats the mixed character ofthe venality of he industrial proc, and that ithe main source of obsolescence. The distance between the act of prvlction and the at of wage this ack of real information allows for the introduction of the inessental, which creates obsolescence. Becane itis judged once and forall, accepcd or ejested infill nthe decison oe {he refusal to buy the objet of nds produstion ia closed object, 2 fake organism tha is seized by a holistic thought that was psycho. socially prodaceds it allows for neither the exerse nor the development of the technical mentality atthe eel of voluntary decisions and norms of ation. ‘as how is it posible to pas oa structure ofthe obec that would allow one to draw outthe technical mentality? First of allan generally speaking, a postion of ascetism allows one to get rid ofthe arial and unhealthy character of social burdens, which expresses self though hypereie developments or developments that in tality do not fone= tion. A contemporary transatanti liner ~ fake Hating city eather ‘han an instrument of wave ~ slowly tends towards the recruitment of lonely, ile ones; the cargo ships more pare, This proliferation of the iesenil already takes hold ofthe commercial sevoplane the com ‘nis fats the traveller the plane grows bigger and heave. Bat the "seni ls in this i order foram objee to allow forthe development ‘of she echnical mentality and tobe chosen by tthe object self neds to be of a reticular structure, IF one imagines an objet that, instead of bing closed, offers pats that are conceved as being as close to ind stractible as posible, and others by contrast in which there would be ‘zomeentated a very high capacity to adjust to each usage, or West oF possible breakage incase of hock, of malfunctioning, then one obtains {an ope objet that canbe completed, improved maintained in the sate of perpetual actualy. An cleric machine that is not provided with tan ongan of protection, whether a fuse or circuit breaker, i ony it HECNCEN ETH VS 2ypearance more simple than a procred machine. When there fan ‘reread the sytem af prezctontck im and the machine Boome Solu compare to what was Before the acide once the Syremolprotestion hasbeen tuned vot nal ae Ti et {hs inal are presuppores sandarzaton, sormalinion, The more tgorousthisnormalton he more per the machine hse the Clos with alrted ae, of ao wih cronies shat one eles ina machin, Ths the key pointe owns echnical bet ich uni of wo aero ality a lapr tat a table and perma tent as possible, which ares fo the wer and det sty ad Iyer hat em be epee change renee eae inne ep of cece tht else, tps, an prodkced by indo and disibted by all te nersors of exchange. through parspaton inhi etwaek thar te echicaleber sways frais “Semporryt ts x, lay ne However, ths onsration in 2 Set of fal acy pevely made pee throgh the rears {hat the ogi chers provi the obet needs to eave desl tf tancoeng tar are kno, measured, nomalced inode foe 81 te abl tobe vided ito permancn pas and pa that ae volta. i rage and subjected o replacement Te objet tol acta te ao rime. And the nonmsaton of trestle of fontoning xpress ful the diftecace erween eately separa see [of thew the dee solidarity pce te meas nthe Gk {ens of netion} ofthe relation Bereen she permanent part andthe pars subject replacement. Ths mature what eines he opm [hth opine te rato f trol of fonconing Incootasion on on saythat the tec mena developing, but thr this formation aston of away that ears witht very appearance of postin ecial reese makes expt {he atte of ths els and tnd fish hess wih norma 0 sure their development. Such 3 memalay can only devo ithe Sse aminomy of the ppositon beween the arama modlty {nt the inal ne pice by them oi of on tty psh towards the development of ech sewort, which re Prado and ts eco coins lel [ol open) ine ska thei of he preston of he chil mentality, one can unc ina sing terion the manesation of copiive hema, Atccte mois and worm of ston a of he peng. Tec fealty lends tal emarhablywello beng continued, cole, pr- {Sted etended nti sete, an extension ofthe echnical mena. i pone and bein fo marl nthe doin ofthe Bie ars14. Gilbert Simondon: Being and Technology Technical Mentally 15 in particular. To construct a building according to the norms of the ‘echnical mentality means to conceive of tas being able tobe enlarged, ‘continued, amplified without disfiguration or erasure. The ‘Le Corbuset monastery” at Eveux'Athesle 4 beautfl example of the conte tion of the technical mentality ia architecture includes within ts plan is proper tne of extension, fora futher enlargement. And this is possible not only because ofthe architectural conception of the whole, Bot also because ofthe spt of paring doven that manifests sellin the shoice of forms and the use of materi wil he posible, without any beak between the old andthe new, sil to use concrete, shuttering. iron, cables and the ubelatare of long corridor. The non-dsimulation ‘of means, this politeness of architecture towards ies material which translates iself by a constant techaophasy, amounts to 9 refsal of obsolescence and tothe dicovery amongst sensible species ofthe per- ‘manent aailabliy’ of the industrial material athe foundation for the reductive continuity ofthe work, Nores memory this pba edad ~ 9 harley and Ve ote 2 RT ph ye bap a Rey Ce “Theedors wn ike thank Nata Sonn ate Sime fan or ‘ig tha he ube opublihsheeacn, Fiche oer seme of pear an fp chang ere {rtneerable Thee cme without date nthe ara hues of Fp pg edie ele ee fr ‘hare wominanon progres and that conforms with he hum figs al, ier these at ne ‘Sunt of open ani gunzaey sagen pst ae pals Stipenwcly dane mol donc har enon once ‘fatepeti mabe hanno eae itctobeat he sime sale. The manure play of Any comes rom he vou fhe ara the map hens of pcs ep omun ad eon emf the ches of cotta the scat af corn fy ere a mary ar ined inh and ran en fc «tounge icc fe me a them ath flamers a more preci approsch ha cose in stdin ts Isha alert ans ae cna col aprons "to deem the ons of ase ame jaye rea Ne ‘tit er most Oe Des nd Ouest al wold ier become ib weer nis nunery Us Eagles oath conser samt compos leet ayes ia ae slaty ‘elon sate The conden femal sors seh y coetng ‘helmet » 2 hamogenonwiole hs how rcom and eos oe [i certain sense, grcure uring and navigation with is are more nds ssalaga aan ote exent ht thy appeal oo tha do no dpend ‘Ste man bang anda come so ey which these pees “Somos othe name extents they ae, eval, song, a can pe se sata ro ore ty ay be ‘hour ole ser eh sche ben sora the ships bem contracted, ‘inSain orogenic Sn and he kato the nara of as he spy eed ‘Epes onthe owth of ogi an of he tp of wae ut itp onthe eos inary cotter human ing fom nat sane ake char ofthe ‘on mgs entre te hop ie lon tthe hana be ‘hela the ey fhe coma one the wind teas he ea ithe ethene ammo ein et spent ‘nclnontoee man am ur consent omc eon Zocebecharere connate eresChapter 2 “Technical Mentality’ Revisited: Brian ‘Massumi on Gilbert Simondon With Arne De Boever, Alex Murray and Jon Roffe ‘Question (Q): Several years ago, you ted to get Simondon translated = and t0 no aval. We thought we could star with the question: why Simondon today? One can see why ¢ would be inportaat, historical, ‘hat Simondon i ally translate ito English, But i tere any reason ‘why his thought strikes you as particularly relevant ~ philosophically, polly, colturaly~ today? ‘Anscer (A): did make strenuous efforts over a number of years, stare ‘ng almost teary years ag, to have Simondon tanslaed for a book series Twas coreiting, The director of the press aly refused to con- side saying there was no interest in Simondon and no audience for ‘he work, Ar the ime, he was probably right- Now the translations are funder way, and are impatiently awaited in many quarers, with a sense ‘ha they ate long overdue, So what changed? Why today? 1c might help to sare by talking about, why nor then? The easy 1990s was a very panicular moment in English-speaking academics and cultural thought. The intellectual movements ofthe preceding three ‘decals had succeeded in chipping significant cracks into the wall Separating the academic disciplines, which had undergone a process of increasing speciazation inthe postwar period that many experenced ra Ballanization of knowledge. I was’ just a question of the much imondon: Being and Technology coin shema he mentions far more frequen in the ey, a tndersand she cognitive schema av an ahsace dela the md of the engine that ome before the ayes an ues cnseuton By that understanding the ong othe echnical obs prey cgen and eniely ineral othe human thinking sje. Human thought frecognie solution, thn extrac i by fing 2 way t mod tater othe form offs prethougtsluton. The praca fading of that way would be the technical pose the wt of meting acon sicher he ara thoweh bj no cnc enn, invention would move fro the past of thought, cope fal fone toward the fre of ah embodinet mater epee the etal ous’ st fr The ton oft cl be isco righ would be one of tsemblnc’confory tft scone on ane conformity 0 a forma “This is clearly not what Sinondon means by concretion f his wet all there were tothe stor, Simondon wl be walking in ‘hlomorphisn’Hylomarpham, che enh the ener fh is edible to the imposton spon inet mare fs pregienabct fori the plop enemy which Simondon endestournt ue shout hs work The nl a shat ma in he tind of human engines hat, Stmodon say "peappons tha te problemi wld Bu ht noe what ees Simson, He es Something ce that aks him iver ferent tion, ©: Coulee his se more, perhaps spiny mee af an 4: Jt hw fa ay hit own chinking moves fom any covetons imondon: Being and Technology the new. The effec isa product ofa recursive casaiy: an ation of the future on the present. Thi is why Simondon insists thatthe technical ‘objets nor the product ofa hylomogphic causality moving from past future A technical invention, he says, doce not have a historical cause, Fehas an absolute origin’ an autonomous taking-etect ofa fous, an «ffctve coming into existence that conditions its own potential to Bea ic comes. Invention is ess abou exuse than i about self contoning, ‘This compleely changes how we must think about che mentale” of the echnical objet. The fee tha cere wae an abstract model of the tucbine inthe mind ofthe designer iin a way secondary. The dea forthe technical object is finally dependent fr is effectiveness on the autonomous raking-elec ofthe elation. iter iecics ino ie doesn, The designer can bring the ewo disparate fis ofthe water and the od to the brink of relation, but the passing ofthe threshold Belongs bso lutly other potenti The designer is helpatetocmergence,Hecan Pr the pices in place, moving through a linear series of steps progress. {ing fom the past of abstract conception toa preset on the brink. at ‘he passing ofthat resold to invention depends on the potenti ‘on of the clements presently in place as function of thei fare, The new-found potential expresses itself at “operative solidarity” between the elements, across the disparity of thee elds. That soliactyf aot ‘he res of simple step-by-step accumulation, or of pecemeal adding together of elements. I is nor decomposable ii holatic I's not strocture, he says Ios not add elements together o form a structural tunity. Rather, sa holsnefect that adds whole new dimension of existence tothe elements diversity 1 should pause here for 2 moment to say something about why’ 1am using the words “holistic and "non-decomposable’ in spite of Simonalon’s bie critics of hols in the essay, ant his ing of the ‘ecomposability ofthe clement as the fist postulate for 4 thinking of "echnial mentality, Simondon init at the sme time thar the element remain decomposable and that they give rise to an effect tht onsite ‘of mode of functioning’ characterized by an ‘operational solidarity” ~ and thus an effective continuity. These two propositions must not he seen to be in contradiction. As Deleuze liked to sy, the whole is of the parts, but alongside them and im addition to them. Whiechead asa has formula for ths ‘the many became one, and are increased by. ne? What Lam calling a liseli jase thts an effec. The wor “effet is taken in a sense akin to the optical ‘effec Deleuze, under Simondon’s influence, also speaks of scientific effects anached to the “Technical Mentoliy’ Revisited 27 proper names of the scientists who invented them, He aes the optical {fer asa model An opal ec sn exces ecto sal woe ‘har dees fl fr the dersy ofthe ements condoning Shree woot any way anuling hat Ses. An example iP opal on tha shel nape earyng the perceiver She no-decomporahle go sro a hed to new emia pea Shc Sinden tesco of hol nthe Techni Men {scp apis pope which eae the dns of condoms om ha i at wih henge ig role annaling ther dversty and ateibuting 4 fountoal nto incl petty to the whole rather than silyplaing in he vel of en it Ths rie camp oo oe mon og pe SF So shot: he eadesnoring sys o think iconinty snd comity tpt an reaon fears with Willa ae ‘acl empircon, hs enlervor ir encapetted ini erp on the umn con tht be borrowing fom pis A ane iep'n nyse ro decompobl at movement acom a thresh Ci Ba impo kt om ne a of en ad compose condor a ellection of parties in 3 particle com eum) and leads oan (ilo of parks in changed Congestion), The dynamic wholeness ofthe quantum even he s- Sroehingnes oft occurence) icerpose af erween to dies ‘Se whowe donna it mars bya change n level accompanied by 1 Sala change nthe defining proper fhe yen (8 pss, ior example om one semen ofthe prio ale o ano). For Simowdon al tzniaon ll change, ll Becoming quetam. "Now to cet rote roe ofthe copie schema as p-exising ss in tion hal on a et Emergence, Flowing tncrmediary steps sngrted by the copatve Schema, the designer nganae dere clement, moving through 8 Frac of put condoning, to he brink ofthe preset. Ae tht St pon te ure cle takes oer I takes creo el, aing the tutor lnp fo ting slain sytem. That moment shh the sym mater the pinto operate esr he tres moment Hf svention, The pasrcondoning bythe dsr ‘owed nto nw dimension of exience bythe sudden whines tr rueconiioning, Poets sup plc, ening nee ‘rome of econ tp te fre re, rom whos ‘Son back-acton hey efely cate no Beng. Tr ruil to andeand thatthe hens of concretion’ i the snapping of the emergent opertive slaty. That i why28 Gilbert Simondon: Being and Technology Simondion says in “Technical Mental” tha the schema of concretia tion sche maliuncsonality of the ol. He mean it literally. The vi, in ies porential coupling with the water, in operative solidarity with it toward future uses, he schema of conctetiation, The schema ‘of concretizaton isthe effective entering-intoeltion of the a with the water. Ir does not conform to the cognitive schema tha was in the mind ofthe designer, according co 4 principle of resemblance, as «copy to model Ie effecsively takes off from i into a new dimension of fextene ~ which is that ofthe technical objets relation to its ov autonomy. The snapping into operative solidarity of the coupled mle ‘functionalities ofthe formerly disparate energetic lds ofthe oil and the water isthe schema of concretization. The instant of the schema of ‘oncreiation’s entering holistically int effec is he absolute origin of the technical objet. Ii nora cognitive form imposed fom outside. es fosh with matter. Ie’ the takingflet of a new order of relation ‘of matter. The takingefletre-enegizes mater, cross the dives of present elements and the disparity of thei lds, propelling it on (0 4 new emergent plane of operational solidarity, anew level of mate: ‘al existence. The schema of concretization is inmanent to mite's Decoming. ‘All ofthis has a major impact on how we understand the term of Simonulon’s that hasbeen taken up the most widely and enthusiastically that ofthe associated mili. The associated mili often wronly understood to he synonymous with “environment. Iti interpreted ‘elering to the space surrounding the boundary ofa technical object {orthe membrane of an organism) considered fom the poin of view of the elements contained in that space that ae lable to fel the technical ‘objets functioning In fat, he associated mile isnot fundamentally spatial concept. Simondon defines ie asthe “regi” of energy transfer between te technical object and it environment, acres the Boundary, by virtue of which the techical object eakes on the autonomy of sel ‘conditioning operative solidarity we were ost dicusing. The associated nile isthe pater of energetic exchange tht ksks in when the schema of coneretization snaps t= But its definition i ot exslsively ener ‘ithe. Simondon testo the absolute origin. A bing that has an asso ‘ated mile, he says, is also one that has an absolute origin (Simondon 1989: 57), Thisis because che egime of sel-condtioning that kes the ‘echnical obec functionally autonomous inves a cic causality, like sha berween the oil and the water inthe Guimbal turbine, which cannot he mounted piece by piece. I comes ofa pce, a8 holism effect ina quantum leap shrough which the object's future potentials “Tochnicol Mentality Revisited 29 for functioning non-decomposably presen themselves. The concept of the associated miu ea philenophialy loaded one, spiked with eer fences to cme, recursive cauality, coming potential, and the immanence lt the technical objets schema of eoneretzation to matters becoming {Wi simplified into a synonym forthe environment, the force of Simondonian complexity lox. 0: So how does Simondoa’s thought on technology depend on his ‘henry of individuation? I seems chat we sl haven’ quite addressed ‘his pong which you insisted on athe beginning of ur conversation, ‘A: Although Simondon never dfines che tem technical mentality im Du ‘mode existence ds objets techniques, and in fat doesnt use iin a0 {this published books, ci no hard eo give ita meaning in keepin With his overall philosophical system ~ aehich & co say, definition tha is fundamentally nomeogmtive, dash with mater and immanent tort becoming. Te implications ae far-reaching. Rather than model Ing technical menalsy on how we conventionally think about hum “git, Simondon’s work challenges ws to rethink human mentality in terms ofa non-cogntive model, of which both human and techaicl mentality would he special cases. Given the lack of explicit develop tment ofthe concep in Simondon’s own work, iis perhaps not out of ‘der to tur to another thinker to lend a hand. For Whichead, each Taking form involves ‘the soring over fam eeenaction to anticipation’ ‘ige 0 an intervening touch of mentality He speaks ofthe e-enaction ‘in terms very similar to Simondon, a6 an energizing’ ofa given set of “onditions inherited rom the pas. Te swingover to aiipation into ‘laces novely into the work! A taking form arses as an eect facing it past’ no sooner totum aay from spas to become 'a cause facing i fara’ a farure cause The snapping-r exemplified in the taking tffet ofthe operational solidaiy (the ‘subjective form: in Whitchead's ‘ocabulay) of chis new existence is he ‘ouch of mental’. Whitehead slkoralks aboot his terms ofthe passing ofa quantum sheesh con- sisting ofthe Becoming ofa qualativly new existence. Saying thatthe ‘coming ends a8 frre cause doesnot mean that dhe invention, once ‘arses takes ts place ina linear chain of easality, a dhe hibeorkal ‘origin of reproductive series The causation ss alas indirect, passing ‘hrough an interval of inmanence: a moment of concetiztion whose Schema is immanent to active matter, Each subsequent exemplifeation ‘ofthe mode of existence must return tothe “absolute orig to come hack to Simondon’s vocabularyits this ewe event of formation ~ and not thar repeats sell I Tess tha a form s reproduced than ‘hat an invention repeat itself he repeat inventions fall nt a src. pater of conformity with each other, iis necessary to explain the serial prodotion of ths resemblance-let. The collective conformity ‘of population of serially predced technical objects tothe cognitive Schema inthe mind of the designer doesnot explain anyching. I skips ‘overall the “ntrmediares~the chain of past ations bringing the ee ‘ments tothe threshold where they bolisceally take elect facing theit futur. skips over che diversi ofthe elements skips over the dapat ity oftheir resdene fields. Te skips over the quaatum lap of becoming, that crosses the dispar, in the coming ro effective existence ofa new level I skips over che touch of mentality immanent o mater Ie Forsets the ation ofthe future forges just aout everything thats fecal Ingredient of the even of invention. Far fromm explaining anything the ‘production of resembling forms exermphiying an invention is precisely ‘what i in need of explanation. The inhertance ofthe past contons rust hae built-in constraint similarly limiting the degree of novel ‘of each retaking eect of che invention, Simondon acount for these limiting conditions that serially resist exemplifsations ofan invention ta formal semblance to each eer in terms of standardisation. The ‘echnical object i an individuation ~ an event of raking-form ~ whose past conditioning precontains the coming potential of ts funcional Autonomy within certain standardized parates, The parameters are hhomeostati, or equilbviam-tending, The technical objet has ony the ‘margin of functional autonomy allowing it to maintain aself homeo staially. The key points thatthe moment of rchnical mentality =the {echnictyof the technical object ~ always immanent to 3 material ‘vent of taking-form. This event occurs at critial point where the past effectively sings over into 3 futurity of functioning. The event ‘of slifarurizing Sealy repeat il, The potentiation of which it ‘onssts repeats, with a pastcondtioned lthue of becoming, The df= ference between the technical object and the living ching i a question tot how grea a acide of becoming thie past conditioning will peemit, “Thetis life when aking form maintains elf atthe rink. Life lives on 4 moving cheshold of metatabiity, of fragile, provisional equilibria ‘hats subject to constant petuthaion, from whose jaws emus top sly natch is homeostasis. The living thing am indvidustion tha has no choice but 0 continue it invention, o face dissolution. Its homeo stati equilibrium i noe a simple selmaitenance, but an eversencwed achievement, Technical Mentality’ Revisited 31 Q: Do you see a connection here with Simondon's theory of physical, ‘ial and psychic [and ollectve individuation? ‘A: Pychic individuation fre continuation ofthe achievement of (ial fedhidoation that widens is attude of becoming. Pryce id aaton swe vil ideation contngesacow quran lap that bigs no exence ane level of operation on which Romeo thes noc essai have to Be maine or even renewed Of cue ®homeosarc equim moat sont to be renewed on the we tec to whch pec ideation rane coupled ae Reesey Sinn of ag guna png om se rh il moving uli, But eke fs with « qualatv i ‘thee oot eto rt Sreraonl penter Itcn conte inventing fl noch 2 way cro coins bcosng diferent, Maturation the lowe degre of the poyhi ndiidation of life The ivenon of cogutive shea ‘replies higher degre The inveton of somatic = schema or thio spe wr nt ana of cach hr = St her degre Alaa the messchemaniing of axiomatic, ‘Nhe lighet See, comtoponting to mht Deleue snd Gata ll ‘onepialccaton and Guta his solo work metemodezation “Te rial poi that lof hese ae bdkaaos i hl Oe sieht There san indidution of mode of hou byte same ken Uy whe cee ta idivaaion of modes of phys ecm and ‘al inition. Tere eno lnear causly between any of them Tach an ef invention bringing ito evens an sonomous lnel of operons soar. Nowe can be adequately expanable ‘without reference to an absolute origin Each must ret i 6 own May at every teation tote abot org a interval of nmanence ‘he akingfice sh witha slE formative activity of mae 33 immanent ate, Tei coming existence cannot be expand without ‘Sem fatring ene ce. Sito he ky stm of Simonton philosophy revolve around che moment of ive, eventiverakingefie and faking new ee. In inline sa gene psc les Stn ele he hala ‘itt which cick in ths pint a oonnce The he Sines mater Shiver ewan Mater hs defned i terms frmtaking ‘Chany mance oh nent ofan orm Nohing coh! ere if the foomrecsvngpasiy of mater siumed by the Ryomor- phic model, Nar then the nverty of the immanent for {aking sci tha sate that nmanenc each even of34 Wilbert Simondon: Being and Technology {aking-foem, asthe principle of individuation animating every coming limo existence. The disparity Berween energetics rom the point of ‘ew of che potential that their synergistic takng-ffct brings ft the Present from the fare, Simondon names the pre-individual The di Pati ise is information. Then theresa pectic tem fo the clinch Ingo synergistic relation of a diversity of elements, actos the disparity ‘oF information and roward the emergence of a ne level of functoning «ealzing the potential of the pre-indiviual, Tha term s mediation. ‘The ‘defniions could. go on indefinitely to cover the. cate Simondonian repertory, all revolving around the same exscal point ‘of absolute orjgination. Al of the familiar words tha come hack around that point take om startlingly new meanings which i racial to hang on to if one isto follow Simondon’s thinking. Simon's “mediation, for example, has oshing 0 do withthe meaning ofthat tem ia Communication Studies, Media Seadies, or Cultural Studies In Simondon, the teem carries ontogenetic fore, eeering to 8 snap Ping into relaion effecting a selfinventive pasting to a new level of ‘existence, Information, for is part pertains 10 the “preindividual” Preparatory to that passage. Information ~ Simondon is unambiguous bout this ~ has no comtent, no stracture anal no meaning In el it ' nothing but dispary. Its mening is the soning int existence of the ew level tha effcively ees off from the disparity and resolves the discontinuity i exhibits into continuity of operation, Information i redefined in terms ofthis vent. As for Gregory Bateson, formation isa “ference that makes difeence’: a disparity chat actively yes 4 new quantum of effect, and whose meaning is the novelty value of ‘har effet, What differentiates Simondon in general fom the cybernetic nd informationsheory traditions our of which Bateson was working (in particular, what diferentes im from Wiener and Shannon? Weaver) stat, for Simondon, this differencing process can in Way he undestood in quantitative terms, and e not sscepible to any hind ‘of stable formalization. The diferencing proces isnot describabe in quanitarive terms because, although a. quantum leap does coincide ith the dicharge of a measurable amount of energy t also coincides vith a passing of a threshold roa qualitatively new level of existence That qualitative crossing isthe crucial point for Smondon. I reuites, for its understanding the mobilzation of 2 whole stable of concepts beyond the pale of quantatve method. The proces is nok suscep ‘to any stable formalization because ts continually giving tse to new ‘operational sliaritis that did noe exit before, and therefore exceed all rie formalization. The"mentaly’ of he process always avails self “Technical Mentality’ Revisited 33 ofa potential energy of invention, in relation co which quantification tl malt te constant laying 2 prea game of ete Si. Nester ever catches wp. Quantification i aways labouring under sect of potent, and formalization under an eneegy deft. Even ‘working together, dey ean oly get sofa asthe possible— according ergson, nothing more than an anaemic, back-cst shadow of potential (0: Could you ak shit more about the significance of potential enersy in Simondon's thought? {Ate Simondons insistence onthe centrality ofthe concep of pte tl enegy shat makes hs philosophy ea afm ls what he tse points to dierent sought rom information theory tnd yore, The penal ofthe energetic taking form that Stnonda'sinision ren th ee that it always cameo pas inthe material clinching ofan fern evens eal in the sense that it comes inthe efit present of tha cerptc event heaton of, isa The alan ea are ewofaces ofthese cen, Toptier they make te even of individuation more sonny mel than ay tne ormalaaton, and pve kore ofa mental toch than any st of anti oul ever have. What diferentes Siondoa from Bateson thm that Simonden never ste touch of mentality Byposas in a ‘Mind thar ne with Nature, There eno “Min mane to Smondon's Nate = only freaking informational actin ith Ss yet that sto yun Hs on ate srs o = content, m0 Sacro meaning There one bu aways one mores ‘meet creubrergaypeal eturning othe quon of techni mentality Sinondon's atl, the relation berween the cogitive schema andthe schema of core tation can now be ter understood. The cogative sche resees the schema of concretion thar he effective invention ofthe tech ‘al eben became effectively mould bu nthe sense that Uderwene an indidoation that operate) anulogows oH abo {tok erg ef fom » pein el of hough (onsiing Shan eased dapany bexween perepions some pen, some Sepearing only possible aso passed guanemthesold across ‘Mc is persona solder came nw nto enence veri the {ergemt mening =the copnive schema all capable of resin the peindidal peepee party tro a well omed snipe nergy facag own eftve fue. Thus cctv formed, the Cogotiveschma was able to follow the meuve tes of 1Sober Simondon: Being and Technology antiport, rae aly ung the engin aco eames pce by pce coro step by sep to the very brisk of venom, Batt beyond A ha point can dono moe Ita repaced the preindvidell Bat aorta th linate ep. Bosse tha step inves the ang om the prinvdal of anew autonomy th coming ino selena, txitence ofa rand new mode of funioning Onl the cic ae Can clinch that fore. The conve schema mus as on the st ofnventon othe schema of ence, aad tp back. For the text steps the point of absaote origination at which te tenia obec formacvly touched by ts own ment energe un os own veo ssl Is the pia at which th eh of the ob ease Ae taking fic takes a whole new fom, through which teeta desler ts ontogenetic independence fom the cogntie schema, Te ‘aps tots own effet inant cause of tech are The cope hema and the schema of coetetation ar in oper sve analogy with one another in the sense that ts omen proces that i repeated beeween them, les ot ly apeskings form, or even asruut, that is epraced by ne fo the other A showtht docs not resemble a turbine. A dispar between petceptcer prc and poses motsrctred ikea dary beween ter snd Ba the aking ofthe operational slr ofthe cgi ‘ima in thought, andthe takingetcr of che operational slaty Of schema of eontetaation in trbinesscnety do "oenble eck oxher nthe sense that they exemplify the sue emtogenctc prose, ‘hei comingsto-be follow te sme principle of iviuaton, I skin, one coming-t-be ends up passing the proces baton tthe ‘ex ening a fcreacing a it Began a he pin of ow abuts rig, The evo ination are not only operate analogy. They form bxween tenons taadace sees ring of tunes «own the processal in of abouts oiinatons lying exch eer, ‘peavey analogous ang or) When this transductv proces taken int count, wht Siondon snes by the coitve schema “hamesngatre’fkes on ct ple new meaning I carnes an inventive sonmeation ha dances *schnkal mental from any tchaocrat viion of rationality, The ‘ecosied measured torial’ theols of functioning he takes the end cer spcicaly tothe tanacdaton ha pnt condone the sev emergence ofthe echnical ejects poi thas when the techn object des consideration sk th for ofthe pontndantral reseork, the anacizaton is actually thepastconition ora opening “Technical Mentality’ Revisited 35 of he technical proce 0 an unbearo frre studs of becoming Through nework tandardaton dhe techn ober n fc acces 0 some ofthe sae natural pote harnessed” by psychic india. ‘hon einai tse? ati omeoneatic quit, But ner fea acuaity' wherein fs invenve niation ene ape Fecnamued: More and more it comes ‘arya own line of pron. fun om sown plane of operational salary, n operative analogy ‘vi psec indvustion, The touch of metal” shat conse {hot ineniier and expands Technical mens ideale, itself more fl rs waged contd, ample” ‘A this happens, chia indvidation and pychc individuation come tothe Wry brink ofeach rier. They ener ig a eaton of crasdocon In concer they rein Nate, withou ‘igri’ che try tha Smondon consider thar the opposition betwen the fective Ino’ the acnal aod the industrial has done, These technic tes were in afetive dpa. They wer antiathic. Which mde thet {spay hese Instead of clinching forward over 3 thebold to 2 ualtaely new level of existence, they subboraly clang to thir anipthy for one another, prolonging te dspary. They remained ines = that oy, ontogenetic iefecta, narualy Ventve = pein enin, This ecko ay rslaton of thet Uspariy trough a quantum lap of fare fing potent snapping tovto newly indviduting effect Te akin was 103 rele level of ‘let ontogenee pity she sabborn disparity becwsenarsanal and industrial echniity can be std ro hve dened port Enlightenment humanity, was 3 Shum perpetual crs. The peo wa locked nam intel dale teeneen noi forthe simpler, more bucolic humannesof aaa proton andthe “prgees’ofthe human bought atthe pce of Shun fagmenation athe mercy ofthe manic Taylors deve for as tral efilency. Doe the “ample echnical mentality of the poste sia petwork prem more inelignt tking oem Beyond the human? Do technialnviduation and paychicndviduaton not oly Irn upon each oe, hut tanaductiely merge into 8 ingle inege? In ponds ech, wl he cognitive schema and the schema concretion aly converge? Sinondon dona exp pone this question much less answer Bat ts a meaate of the effective otal of hi own conceptual inventiveness that he came obi, {oar ahead in sniiaion, and in away tat Raines ws today ith fur facing source pt oat we in Coming oor ows rerponse ssancxprenon ofa ics f becoming,mean: peng ana recnnology safe | shy avay tom pohunanit dicoue. fom imondonian ethics of becoming is best to be found not in a hext st tna’ bat nthe moun atthe depo eso ey dt haan an avi What any she nan the ontogenetic inching ofthe preiniidal hat eo ‘heal of keoming. mean ke india tar seraecer ae solani of eccuretexence = atthe bk Jo caning el {0 be what will always have ben, ata level where Rae ore ‘Sontent, no meaning, no structure, only past-conditioning fucure faci The really ideal absolute origin’, 8a function of which every nomen of imviuntoncetvely ends whee cawall epee 4k emergency all indvidatios in that va network of wane ‘more-than-oneness that is the process of Nature, ae that nondecomposable {Q:Thank you very much for this inervew. Nomes 1, Gita Simondon, Du made dese de 0 ‘oe vale des objets Pts Aa, 2 Ihde Gilber Sandon nddeation 2 lami dsm {inert Cacnble tine Mion, 2009, pe te forme 3 AN Wht Adena of aN Yor Pe Tm 1967) pp 192-4 Chapter 3 Identity and Individuation: Some Feminist Reflections Elizabeth Grosz Thote ar, for GilbereSimondon, many kinds of individuals, many inde of subjet, many kinds of objec, but all share the processes of individuation, which may serve equal co explain the coming. into ring and the existence of being fall kinds, materi organic, human, ‘sum. Inviduations are the processes that dtingush berween ioe ‘snc and onganc existence, between cultural and technological onder, heeween objects and subjects as well as what enables these erms tobe linked. His understanding of the processes of genesis of individuals ‘ofall kinds has surprising implications not only for philosophies of tecinology,! bat also for forms of Feminist, antraist and ada polit ‘al thought. In providing models for underseanding how things, includ ing living beings, are brought into existence as cohesive individuals, Smondon opens up ne ways of understanding identity, ransformation and creation ~ all central ingredients in a radielreconcepeualization of thoughe T wane to discuss her how physical and biological individuals come to be, and what proceses of becoming ae involved in thee genesis. What ‘ders and material ~ concepaal natura, technological ~ re involved inthe generation of individuality? What fores ae ar work forming, ‘deforming and transforming indiiduay sach that we can understand the forms of power and the fores of resistance, char both enable and limie individuals? Can Simondon provide feminist and other modes ‘of radial poliical thought witha diferent model by which to undee Sand the concep of identity, not through 2 notion of the slfsame, hue through what is racealy disparate and concinually changing? Can ‘we explain niidaaity through that which siself not individualized, ‘through processes of individuation?