Old Notes from an Unfinished Reading of Simondon's Individuation Book
Introduction:
Simondon wants to critique the hylomorphic and substantialist account of individuation as presupposing the very individuals which are to be explained and instead suggests an analysis of individuation as a process that produces as one of (but not its exclusive) results is the individual in what he calls an “Onto-Genesis.” Simondon then goes on the describe what he calls a phase-shifting model of being in which becoming is the way in which being resolves an internal incompatibility within itself, where the individual is a byproduct of resolving this unstable system rich in potentials though not the end of the system by any means as such a phase-shifting being in Simondon’s eyes is “metastable” meaning it has a mix of stability with a continuous ability to transform and diffuse potentiality. Simondon points to how these individuations occur in different ways depending on the stage and type comparing the physical individuation of the crystal bound to dissolve its potentials inbetween its milieu, to the organic being that can continually internally change to diffuse its potential by developing internal resonance, and this is due to each individuation carrying potential along with them into the new stages. Simondon says psychical beings seek to engender their capacity to solve problems or resolve potentials collectively in order (for one at least) to orient the direction of our problem solving as organisms by the creation of notions like “object”. He contrasts this view to dualisms that separates the individual from the world it occupies. The transindividual is what Simondon refers to as this connected reality of collective and individual which diffuses in emotions for example. Simondon states phase shifting is occurring through all this by the disparity of reals which is a type of informational imbalance in a system. Simondon says beings are inherently relational. From the center of a being Simondon says humans can think how such beings “transduct” an ensemble of potential structures out of its latent potential and current structures. Simondon calls this transductive analysis analogical, and a contrast to Dialectics. Simondon critiques Dialectics for failing to treat the negative as pure potential. Transduction thinks the potentials of a system immanently but not presupposing time as time itself is a solution to a problem. Simondon wants to replace the notion of form with information which is an unbalanced state of intercommunicating terms, except for the notion of a “good form” which preserves it potential and capacity to transform in its different states. Simondon concludes the intro by saying we know the individuation of the world through the individuation of ourselves.
Chapter One: Form and Matter Foundations of the Hylomorphic Schema: Technology of Form Taking
1 The Conditions of Individuation: Simondon starts to criticize the hylomorphic Schema by pointing that it's prime metaphor of clay and sculptor does not even align with the Schema laid out as it takes a certain technical mediation on a specific type of matter with a specific type of former in real life to actually form clay. Simondon notes that there is a process and matter that goes into making the clay former and for the clay itself to even receive the form it must actively also have every one of its molecules participate in its maintaining of the form as an active force so there is a bottom up and top down interplay feeding into the sculpting. Simondon says the form matter combo only raises in this case through an interplay of force where the clay former is emitting force which is limiting the potentials of the clay which is emitting force to diffuse its potentials. The force emitted by the former resonates internally in the clay.
2 Validity of the Hylomorphic Schema; the Dark Zone of the Hylomorphic Schema; Generalization of the Notion of Form-Taking; Modeling, Molding , Modulation:
Due to the brevity of the section I will simply post Key Quotes which summarize the heart of its points: “The matter is what bears this energy, and the form is what modulates the distribution of this very energy . At the moment of form-taking, the matter-form unity is in the energetic regime”
“What makes it such that a being is itself , different from all others, is neither its matter nor its form but the operation through which its matter has taken form in a certain system of internal resonance.”
3 Limits of the Hylomorphic Schema: Simondon finds the finite time taken to generate individuals and inability for said individuals produced by a technical process to continue individuation dynamically within themselves to show a flaw in the Hylomorphic Schema compared to the vital Schema especially since the former’s very process metaphoric process relies on the mediation of the latter. Nevertheless the technical Schema may be useful when talking of translations between orders and understanding them, however he notes flaws in such models may be due to social conditions such as the Hylomorphic Schema coming from Greek slave societies where the passivity of matter paralleled the master’s perception of the slaves passivity to produce goods for example.
II Physical Signification of Technical Form Taking 1 Physical Conditions of Technical Form-Taking: Simondon notes that the Hylomorphic schema’s success cannot solely be explained by social conditions but also because it takes into account the reality of matter’s ability to take forms, and notes that an alternative account must explained matter's forming abilities as well. Simondon analyzes how the technical operations done on trees to grab at useful haecceities will eventually run up beyond just useful forms, the real form inherent to the tree’s structure such as their cells for example. The more efficient a tool, the more it brushes up on these more unmalleable forms.
2 Qualities and Implicit Physical Form: Simondon notes the qualities (like porousness) of objects only emerge by divulging implicit forms out of them through technical operations rather than the form being the accidental effect of certain arranged superficial qualities. The implicit forms were inherent limits on the capacities for transformation while qualities are simply contingent effects of emphasizing one limit over another. Simondon then points to how most technical operations over emphasize these superficial qualities and thus remain poor examples of form and matter.
3 Hylomorphic Ambivalence: Simondon inverts the Hylomorphic schema’s uniformity of form and diversity of matter by pointing in actual construction the builder will form each piece of matter uniquely in each instant while the matter must be able to mass produced homogeneously to undergo this process and that this inverted perspective of Hylomorphism is due to master servant societies. Simondon ruminates that the artisans conceives of objects in terms of information rather than form as they do not have the luxury to simply extract form at will from objects like masters and this is do partially to their connection of labor.
III The Two Aspects of Individuation 1 Reality and Relativity of the Foundation of Individuation: Simondon notes individuation is observed by humans but this should not immediately discount the notion for being subjective as it is rooted in a distinct signification from the individual. Simondon then questions the relationship between an individual being itself and an individual not being everything else, and instead states individuals are singularities situated between systems of different magnitudes that converge around multiple milieus.
2 The Energetic Foundations of the Individual: Individuation and Milieu: Simondon states that there are multiple layers of reality with and without individuation and that the individual is merely one way or resolving informational instabilities in said layers where the individual exists at intersection between higher and lower order realities as a singularity of metastable energy between them in its milieu.
Chapter 2 Form and Energy I Structure and Potential Energy 1 The Potential Energy and the Reality of the System; Equivalence of Potential Energies; Dissymmetry and Energetic Exchanges: Simondon analyzes energetic systems and says they operate upon the potential of transformation between interconnected terms in a state of asymmetry. He explains this point by showing how a machine with an equal amount of kinetic energy can have multiple distributions of potential energy.
2 Different Orders of Potential Energy; Notions of Phase Changes and of the Stable and Metastable Equilibrium of a State. Tammann' s Theory: Simondon notes a distinction between continuous wave-like immanently perpetuating systems of energy changes, and mere exteriorly imposed stasis. Simondon then goes on to note that systems can come to have irreversible changes in energy when the structure of the system itself changes, and this irreversibility can give a directionality to the development of processes as opposed to amorphous ones. Ultimately Simondon notes structures themselves have potential energy latent in them in this quote:
“we will choose to name those energies that express the limits of stability of a structural state as structural potential energies. These potential energies constitute the real source of the formal conditions of possible genesis.”
II Individuation and System States 1 Individuation and Crystalline Allotropic Forms; Being and Relation: Simondon analyzes structural potentials by comparing allotropic states of crystallizable sulfur where sulfur can take on multiple structures from the same starting position depending on the energetic distribution of heat. Simondon notes that individuals are born and sustained by a convergence of energetic diffusions and historical conditions along with encounters with events in other systems. Simondon states the types of structures beings can actualize does not individuate them but rather the manner and cases in which they do this do. Individuals only maintain themselves insofar as they persist in singularity between the historic and energetic conditions of their genesis. Simondon goes on about relation realism, how knowledge is a relation, and the relation between two relations like subject and knowledge are themselves relations.
More quotes: “A substance conserves its individuality when it is in the most stable state proportionate to its own energetic conditions.”
“A stable individuality is thus formed when two conditions are met: a certain structure must correspond to a certain energetic state of the system. But this structure is not directly produced by the energetic state alone, for it is distinct from the latter; the initiation of structuration is critical; most often in crystallization germs are deposited from the exterior. Thus, there is a historical aspect to the manifestation of a structure in a substance, insofar as the structural germ must appear. Pure energetic determinism does not suffice for a substance to attain its state of stability . The beginning of structuring individuation is an event for the system in a metastable state. Thus, in general, even in the simplest process of individuation, a relation takes place between the body under consideration and the temporal existence of beings external to it that intervene as the evental conditions of its structuration. The constituted individual holds within it the synthesis of energetic and material conditions and of an informational condition, which is generally not immanent. If the encounter between these three conditions has not taken place, the substance has not attained its stable state; it then remains in a metastable state.”
“A real thought is self - justifying but not justified before being structured: it includes an individuation and is individuated , thereby possessing its own degree of stability. In order for a thought to exist , it requires not just a logical condition but also a relational postulate that allows for its genesis to be accomplished.”
2 Individuation as the Genesis of Crystalline Forms Starting from an Amorphous State: Simondon uses a lot of empirical examples.to argue that individuation only occurs if an actual singularity has the ripe conditions for maintaining, a dynamic asymmetry that develops their properties. Time for Simondon is this very asymmetry between substantive structure in the past and porous potential in the future converging in one imbalanced present of continual unfolding.
quote: “It is because the crystal is perpetually unfinished, in a maintained state of suspended genesis, that it possesses what can be uniquely called "properties"; these properties are in fact the ongoing disequilibrium manifested by the relations with the polarized fields or by the creation (at the limit of the crystal and around it) of a field that has a polarity determined by the crystal's structure.”
3 Epistemological Consequences: Reality of Relation and the Notion o f Substance: Simondon talks of individuation of crystals occuring not substantially but structurally is discontinuous intervals that allow the structure to repeat itself into an amorphous milieu that polarizes the growth of the crystal into an asymmetry between the amorphous exterior to grow through and the crystal structure already grown.
quote: “Here, relation is observable as an active limit, and its type of reality is that of a limit. In this sense, we can define the individual as a limited being, but only on condition of thereby understanding that a limited being is a polarizing being that possesses an indefinite dynamism of growth with respect to an amorphous milieu.”
Chapter 3 Form and Substance I Continuous and Discontinuous 1 Functional Role of Discontinuity: Simondon notes analysis of physics has been interrupted in the past with moralist interpretations of the individual and its relation to either being primary or distant in the cosmos which was helped by Christianity divorcing the concept of the individual in the ethical sense from physics. Simondon notes modern physics makes relation primary in its conception of matter and energy
2 The Antinomy of the Continuous and the Discontinuous: Simondon describes how particles are both structures of incredibly isolated unity and amorphous fields of relational potential at the same time… (I barely think this was a very hard and sciencey little section)