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Gilbert Simondon





CAREER

Born in , and phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty . He studied at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Sorbonne . His major works are ''Du mode d'existence des objets techniques'' and ''L'individuation psychique et collective'', which was also his thesis.


INDIVIDUATION AND TECHNOLOGY

In ''L'individuation psychique et collective'', Simondon developed a theory of individual and collective Individuation , in which the individual Subject is considered as an effect of individuation, rather than a cause. Thus the individual atom is replaced by the neverending Ontological process of individuation. Simondon also conceived of "pre-individual fields" as the funds making individuation itself possible. Individuation is an always incomplete process, always leaving a "pre-individual" left-over, itself making possible future individuations. Furthermore, individuation always creates both an individual and a collective subject, which individuate themselves together.

Gilbert Simondon criticized " of machines.


INFLUENCE

Simondon's theory of Individuation through Transduction in a Metastable environment was an important influence on the thought of Gilles Deleuze . Bernard Stiegler has also made extensive use of Simondon's account of psychic and collective Individuation , while nevertheless maintaining a critique of Simondon's account of technology.


REFERENCES


Primary literature

  • ''Du mode d'existence des objets techniques'' (Méot, 1958; second ed. Paris Aubier, 1989).

  • ''L'individu et sa genèse physico-biologique (l'individuation à la lumière des notions de forme et d'information)'', Paris 1964 ( PUF , Second ed. J.Millon, coll. Krisis, 1995).

  • ''L'individuation psychique et collective'' (Paris Aubier, 1989; thesis).


Published 2005–2006
  • ''L’Invention dans les techniques'', Cours et conferences, Éd. du Seuil, coll. "Traces écrites".

  • ''L’Individuation à la lumière des notions de forme et d’information'', Jérôme Millon, coll. Krisis.

  • ''Cours sur la perception'' (1964-1965), Préface de Renaud Barbaras, Éd. de La Tansparence.


English translations
  • "The Genesis of the Individual," in Jonathan Crary & Sanford Kwinter (eds.), ''Incorporations'' (New York: Zone Books, 1992): 297–319.



Secondary literature



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