Gilbert Simondon’s Theory of the Image: Dimensions and Problems for the Philosophy of Technology
Keywords:
Simondon, image, philosophy of technologyAbstract
This paper proposes to place the notion of “image” in Gilbert Simondon’s philosophy of technology and in the more general context of current debates in the philosophy of technology. Simondon developed this concept in his course of 1965-66, published under the title Imagination and Invention, but the term is not mentioned in his more well-known works: Individuation in Light of Notions of Form and Information and On the Mode of Existence of Technical Objects. This raises the challenge of reconciling the image with the theory of individuation previously developed by Simondon, especially in its psychological and collective dimensions, where the image is manifested. The aim of this paper is to face this challenge in the context of technology. It will be argued that the image is not only compatible with the framework of Simondon’s philosophy of technology, but that it also complements and enriches it.Downloads
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