mode of existence of technical objects translation excerpt mellamphy mellamphy and mellamphy
TRANSCRIPT
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OntheModeofExistenceofTechnicalofTechnicalObjects
by
GilbertSimondon
THIRDPART
THEESSENCEOFTECHNICITY
ChapterI
THEGENESISOFTECHNICITY
ITHENOTIONOFPHASEAPPLIEDTOBECOMING:TECHNICITYASPHASE
Thisstudypostulatesthattechnicityisoneofthetwofundamentalphasesofthe
modeofexistenceoftheensembleconstitutedbymanandtheworld. Byphase,wedonot
meanonetemporalmomentreplacedbyanother,butanaspectthatresultsfromadivision
ofbeingandthatisopposedtoanotheraspect. Thissenseofthewordphaseisinspiredby
thenotionofphaserelationinphysics;onecannotconceiveofaphaseexceptinrelationto
anotherortoseveralotherphases;inasystemofphasesthereisarelationofequilibrium
andofreciprocaltensions;thepresentsystemofallthephasestakentogetheristhe
completereality,noteachphaseitselfsinceaphaseisaphaseonlyinrelationtoothers,and
itisdistinguishedfromtheminamannerthatistotallyindependentofnotionsofgenusand
species. Finally,theexistenceofapluralityofphasesdefinestherealityofaneutralcentre
ofequilibriuminrelationtowhichthephaseshiftexists. Thisschemaisverydifferentfrom
thedialecticalschema,becauseitimpliesneithernecessarysuccessionnortheintervention
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ofnegativityasengineofprogress;moreover,intheschemaofphases,theoppositionexists
onlyintheparticularcaseofabiphasestructure.
Theadoption
of
such
aschema
founded
on
the
notion
of
phase
is
destined
to
put
in
playaprincipleaccordingtowhichthetemporaldevelopmentofalivingrealityproceedsby
divisionfromaninitialactivecentreandthenbyregroupingaftertheadvanceofeach
separaterealityresultingfromthedivision.Eachseparaterealityisasymboloftheother,just
asonephaseisasymboloftheotherorofothers;nophase,asphase,isinequilibriumin
relationtoitself,nordoesithavecompletetruthorreality:everyphaseispartial,abstract,
andunbalanced;onlythesystemofphasesisinequilibriumatitsneutralpoint;itstruthand
itsrealityarethisneutralpoint,theprocessionandconversioninrelationtothisneutral
point.
Wesupposethattechnicityresultsfromaphaseshiftofacentral,original,and
uniquemode
of
being
in
the
world,
the
magical
mode;
the
phase
that
balances
technicity
is
thereligiousmodeofbeing.Aestheticthinkingemergesattheneutralpointbetween
technicsandreligion,atthemomentofthedivisionofprimitivemagicalunity:thisisnota
phasebut,rather,apermanentreminderoftheruptureoftheunityofthemagicalmodeof
beingandasearchforafutureunity.
Eachphaseinturndividesintoatheoreticalmodeandapracticalmode;thereisthus
apracticalmodeoftechnicsandapracticalmodeofreligion,aswellasatheoreticalmodeof
technicsandatheoreticalmodeofreligion.
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Justasthedistancebetweentechnicsandreligiongeneratesaestheticthinking,so
thedistancebetweenthetwotheoreticalmodes(thetechnicalandthereligious)generates
scientificknowledgeasmediationbetweentechnicsandreligion.Thedistancebetweenthe
practicaltechnicalmodeandthepracticalreligiousmodegeneratesethicalthinking.
Aestheticthinkingisthereforeamediationbetweentechnicsandreligionthatismore
primitivethanscienceandethics,forthebirthofscienceandethicsrequiresapriordivision
withintechnicsandreligionbetweenthetheoreticalmodeandthepracticalmode. Fromthis
resultsthefactthataestheticthinkingistrulysituatedattheneutralpoint,extendingthe
existenceofmagic,whereasscienceontheonehandandethicsontheotherareinconflict
inrelationtotheneutralpoint,sincethereisthesamedistancebetweenthemasthereis
betweenthetheoreticalmodeandthepracticalmodeintechnicsandinreligion.Ifscience
andethicscouldhaveconvergedandunited,theywouldhavecoincidedintheneutralaxisof
thisgeneticsystem,therebyprovidingasecondanalogueofmagicalunity,overandabove
theincomplete
aesthetic
thinking
that
is
its
first
analogue,
incomplete
because
it
allows
the
phaseshiftbetweentechnicsandreligiontosubsist. Thissecondanaloguewouldbe
complete;itwouldreplaceatoncemagicandaesthetics;butperhapsitisonlyasimple
tendencyplayinganormativerole,sincenothingprovesthatthedistancebetweenthe
theoreticalmodeandthepracticalmodecanbecompletelybridged.
Inordertoindicatethetruenatureoftechnicalobjects,itisthereforenecessaryto
resorttoastudyoftheentiregenesisoftherelationsbetweenmanandtheworld;the
technicityofobjectswouldthenseemtobeoneofthetwophasesoftherelationofmanto
theworldengenderedbythedivisionofprimitivemagicalunity.Shouldtechnicitythenbe
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consideredasasimplemomentinagenesis?Yes,inacertainsense:thereiscertainly
somethingtransitoryintechnicity,whichitselfbecomesdividedintotheoryandpracticeand
participatesinthesubsequentgenesisoftheoreticalthinkingandofpracticalthinking.But,in
anothersense,thereissomethingdefinitiveintheoppositionoftechnicitytoreligiosity,
becausemansprimitivewayofbeingintheworld(magic)canbethoughttoprovide
inexhaustiblyanindefinitenumberofsuccessivecontributionsthatcanbedividedintoa
technicalphaseandareligiousphase; inthismanner,althougheffectivelythereis
successioningenesis,thesuccessivestagesofthedifferentgenesesaresimultaneouswithin
culture,andtherearerelationsandinteractionsnotonlybetweensimultaneousphasesbut
alsobetweensuccessivestages;hence,technicscanencounternotonlyreligionand
aestheticthinkingbutalsoscienceandethics.Now,ifoneadoptsthegeneticpostulate,one
noticesthatascienceoranethicscanneverencounterareligionoratechnicsonatruly
commonground,sincethemodesofthinkingthataredifferentindegree(forexamplea
scienceand
atechnique)
and
that
exist
at
the
same
time
do
not
constitute
asingle
genetic
lineage,donotissuefromthesamesurgeoftheprimitivemagicaluniverse.Trueand
balancedrelationsonlyexistbetweenphasesofthesamelevel(forexampleatechnical
ensembleandareligion)orbetweensuccessivedegreesofgenesisthatarepartofthesame
lineage(forexamplebetweenthestageoftechnicsandofreligionsintheseventeenth
century
and
the
contemporary
stage
of
science
and
of
ethics).
True
relations
exist
only
in
a
geneticensemblebalancedaroundaneutralpoint,envisagedinitstotality.
Thisispreciselythegoaltobereached:reflexivethinkinghasamissiontoredressand
refinethesuccessivewavesofgenesisbywhichtheprimitiveunityoftherelationofmanto
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theworldbecomesdividedandcomestosustainscienceandethicsthroughtechnicsand
religion,betweenwhichaestheticthinkingdevelops. Inthesesuccessivedivisions,primitive
unitywouldbelostifscienceandethicswerenotabletocometogetherattheendofthe
genesis;philosophicalthinkingisinsertedbetweentheoreticalthinkingandpractical
thinking,intheextensionofaestheticthinkingandoftheoriginalmagicalunity.
Now,tomakepossibletheunityofscientificknowledgeandofethicsinphilosophical
thinking,thesourcesofscienceandofethicshavetobeofthesamedegree,
contemporaneousonewiththeother,andmusthavearrivedatthesamepointofgenetic
development.Thegenesisoftechnicsandofreligionconditionsthatofscienceandof
ethics.Philosophyisitsowncondition,forassoonasreflexivethinkingbegins,ithasthe
powertoperfectwhicheverofthegenesesthathasnotbeenentirelyachieved,bybecoming
awareofthesenseofthegeneticprocessitself.So,tobeabletoposethephilosophical
problemoftherelationsbetweenknowledgeandethicsinaprofoundmanner,itwouldbe
necessaryfirstofalltocompletethegenesisoftechnicsandthegenesisofreligiousthinking,
orattheveryleast(forthistaskwouldbeinfinite)toknowtherealmeaningofthesetwo
geneses.
II.THEPHASESHIFTOFPRIMITIVEMAGICALUNITY
Inordertounderstandthetruerelationoftechnicstootherfunctionsofhuman
thinking, onemuststartwiththeprimitivemagicalunityoftherelationsofmanandworld;
throughthisexaminationitispossibletounderstandwhyphilosophicalthinkingshould
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completetheintegrationoftechnicalrealityintoculture,whichisonlypossiblebyfreeingthe
senseofthegenesisoftechnicsbythefoundingofatechnology;so,thedisparitybetween
technicsandreligionsubsides,harmfulasitistotheintendedreflexivesynthesisof
knowledgeandethics.Philosophymustfoundtechnology,whichistheecumenismof
technics,becauseifethicsandthesciencesaretomeetupinreflection,aunityoftechnics
andaunityofreligiousthinkingneedstoprecedethedivisionofeachoftheseformsof
thinkingintoatheoreticalmodeandapracticalmode.
Thegenesisofaparticularphasecanbedescribedinitself;butitcannotbereally
knowninitssenseand,consequently,understoodinitspostulationofunity,unlessitis
repositionedinthetotalityofitsgenesis,asaphaseinrelationtootherphases.Thisiswhyin
tryingtounderstandtechnicityitisnotenoughtostartwithconstitutedtechnicalobjects;
objectsemergeatacertainmoment,buttechnicityprecedesandsurpassesthem;technical
objectsresultfromanobjectificationoftechnicity;theyareproducedbyit,yettechnicityis
notexhaustedintheseobjectsandisnotentirelycontainedinthem.
Ifweeliminatetheideaofadialecticalrelationbetweensuccessivestagesofthe
relationbetweenmanandtheworld,whatcouldbetheengineofsuccessivedivisionsduring
whichtechnicityemerges? ItispossibletoappealtothetheoryofForms,andtogeneralize
the
relation
that
it
establishes
between
figure
and
ground.
Gestalt
theory
draws
its
basic
principlefromthehylemorphicschemaofancientphilosophy,appliedtomodern
considerationsofphysicalmorphogenesis:thestructuringofasystemwoulddependon
spontaneousmodificationstendingtowardastablestateofequilibrium.Inreality,itseems
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thatadistinctionshouldbemadebetweenastableequilibriumandametastable
equilibrium.Theemergenceofthedistinctionbetweenfigureandgroundresultsfroma
stateoftension,fromtheincompatibilityofthesysteminrelationtoitself,fromwhatone
couldcalltheoversaturationofthesystem.Butthestructuringisnotthediscoveryofthe
lowestlevelofequilibrium:stableequilibrium,inwhichallpotentialwouldbeactualized,
wouldcorrespondtothedeathofanypossibilityoffurthertransformation;so,livingsystems,
preciselythosethatmanifestthegreatestorganizationalspontaneity,aresystemsof
metastableequilibrium. Thediscoveryofastructureisatleastaprovisionalresolutionof
incompatibilities,butitisnotthedestructionofpotentials;thesystemcontinuestoliveand
toevolve;itisnotdegradedbytheemergenceofstructure;itremainstenseandcapableof
beingmodified.
Ifoneagreestoacceptthiscorrectiveandtoreplacethenotionofstabilitywiththat
ofmetastability,thenitseemsthattheTheoryofFormsmayaccountforfundamentalstages
intheevolutionoftherelationbetweenmanandtheworld.
Primitivemagicalunityisthevitalrelationallinkbetweenmanandtheworld,defining
auniverseatoncesubjectiveandobjectivepriortoanydistinctionbetweenobjectand
subject,andconsequentlyalsopriortoanyemergenceoftheseparateobject.Theprimitive
mode
of
the
relation
of
man
to
the
world
can
be
thought
of
as
not
only
prior
to
the
objectificationoftheworld,buteventothesegregationofobjectiveunitiesinthefieldthat
willbecometheobjectivefield. Manfindsthatheisboundtoauniversethatisexperienced
asamilieu.Theemergenceoftheobjectcanonlyhappenthroughtheisolationand
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fragmentationofthemediationbetweenmanandtheworld;andaccordingtotheprinciple
proposed,thisobjectificationofamediationmusthaveascorrelative,inrelationtothe
primitiveneutralcentre,thesubjectificationofmediation. Themediationbetweenmanand
theworldbecomesobjectifiedasatechnicalobject,inthesamewayasitissubjectifiedasa
religiousmediator;butthisobjectificationandthissubjectification,contraryand
complementary,areprecededbyaprimarystageoftherelationtotheworld,themagical
stage,inwhichthemediationisstillneithersubjectivenorobjective,neitherfragmentednor
universalized,andisthesimplestandmostfundamentalstructuringofthemilieuofaliving
being:thebirthofanetworkofprivilegedpointsofexchangebetweenthebeingandthe
milieu.
Themagicaluniverseisalreadystructured,butaccordingtoamodethatispriorto
thesegregationofobjectandsubject;thisprimitivemodeofstructuringistheonethat
distinguishesfigurefromgroundbymarkingkeypointsintheuniverse.Iftheuniversewere
deprivedofeverystructure,therelationbetweenthelivingbeinganditsmilieucouldoccur
inacontinuoustimeandacontinuousspace,withoutprivilegedmomentorplace.Infact,
precedingthesegregationofunities,areticulationofspaceandtimeisestablishedthat
highlightsprivilegedplacesandmoments,asifallofman'spowertoactandallthecapacity
oftheworldtoinfluencemanwereconcentratedintheseplacesandinthesemoments.
Theseplacesandthesemomentspossess,concentrate,andexpresstheforcescontainedin
thegroundrealitythatsupportsthem. Thesesitesandthesemomentsarenotseparate
realities;theydrawtheirforcefromthegroundthattheydominate;buttheylocalizeand
focalizetheattitudeofthelivingvisvisitsmilieu.
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Accordingtothisgeneralgenetichypothesis,wesupposethattheprimitivemodeof
existenceofmanintheworldcorrespondstoaprimitiveunion,priortoanydivision,of
subjectivityand
objectivity.
The
primary
structuring,
corresponding
to
the
emergence
of
a
figureandagroundinthismodeofexistence,iswhatgivesbirthtothemagicaluniverse.The
magicaluniverseisstructuredaccordingtothemostprimitiveandmostfecundof
organizations:thatofthereticulationoftheworldintoprivilegedplacesandprivileged
moments.Aprivilegedplace,aplacethathasapower,isonewhichdrawsintoitselfallthe
forceandefficacyofthedomainitdelimits;itsummarizesandcontainstheforceofa
compactmassofreality;itsummarizesandgovernsit,asanhighlandgovernsanddominates
alowland;theelevatedpeakisthelordofthemountain,1justasthemostimpenetrablepart
ofthewoodiswhereallitsrealityresides.Themagicalworldisinthiswaymadeofa
networkofplacesandthingsthathaveapowerandareboundtootherthingsandother
placesthatalsohaveapower.Suchapath,suchanenclosure,suchatemenoscontainsall
theforceoftheland,andisthekeypointoftherealityandofthespontaneityofthings,as
wellasoftheiraccessibility.
Insuchanetworkofkeypoints,ofhighplaces,thereisaprimitiveindistinction
regardinghumanrealityandtherealityoftheobjectiveworld. Thesekeypointsarerealand
objective,
but
in
them
the
human
being
is
immediately
united
with
the
world,
both
to
be
influencedbyitandtoactuponit;theyareplacesofcontactandofmixed,mutualreality,
placesofexchangeandofcommunicationbecausetheyformaknotbetweenbothrealities.
1Notmetaphoricallybutreally:thegeologicalfoldingandtheeruptionthatbuiltthewholemassifareoriented
towardthepeak.Thepromontoryisthefirmestpartofthechainerodedbythesea.
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Yet,magicalthoughtisthefirst,becauseitcorrespondstothesimplest,most
concrete,mostimmense,andmostsupplestructuring:thatofreticulation.Inthetotality
constitutedby
man
and
the
world
there
emerges
as
the
primary
structure
anetwork
of
privilegedsitesthatmakepossibletheinsertionofhumaneffort,andthroughwhich
exchangesbetweenmanandtheworldarecarriedout. Eachsingularsiteconcentrates
withinitselfthecapacitytohavecontroloveraportionoftheworldthatitspecifically
representsandwhoserealityitconveysincommunicationwithman.Thesesingularsites
couldbecalledkeypointscontrollingthemanworldrelationshipinareversibleway,forthe
worldinfluencesmanjustasmaninfluencestheworld. Thesummitsofmountainsorcertain
narrowpassesareinthiswaynaturallymagical,becausetheygovernaregion.Theheartof
theforestandthecentreofaplainarenotjustgeographicalrealitiesmetaphoricallyor
geometricallydesignated:theyarerealitiesthatconcentratenaturalpowersastheyfocalize
humaneffort:theyarefiguralstructuresinrelationtothemassethatsupportsthemandthat
constitutestheirground.
Ingeneral,welooktosuperstitionwhenwewanttofindanexampleoftheschemas
ofmagicalthinkingintheactualconditionsoflife.Infact,superstitionsarefadedvestigesof
magicalthinkingand,inasearchforitsrealessence,theycanonlybemisleading.Onthe
other
hand,
to
understand
the
meaning
of
magical
thinking,
it
is
advisable
to
resort
to
high,
nobleandsacredformsofthoughtthatrequireaclearandinsightfuleffort.That,for
example,istheaffective,representative,andvoluntarysubstratumthatsupportsanascent
oranexploration.Perhapsthedesireforconquestandthesenseofcompetitionunderliethe
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motivationthatmakesitpossibletomovefromeverydayexistencetoexceptionalacts;but
certainlywhenthedesireforconquestisinvoked,itisamatterofmakinganindividualact
legitimateforacommunity.Infact,intheindividualbeingorinthegrouplimitedtothose
whoperformtheexceptionalact,thethinkingimplementedismuchmoreprimitiveand
muchmoreelaborate.
Ascent,explorationand,moregenerally,everypioneeringactconsistsinadheringto
thekeypointsthatnaturepresents.Climbingaslopeinordertogotowardthesummitisto
makeoneswaytowardtheprivilegedplacethatcommandstheentiremountainousmassif,
notinordertodominateortotakepossessionofit,buttoenterintoafriendlyrelationship
withit. Manandnaturearenotstrictlyspeakingenemiesbeforesuchaccessiontothekey
point,butstrangerstooneother. Untilithasbeenclimbed,thesummitisonlyasummit,a
placehigherthantheothers.Theascentgivesitthecharacterofaplacethatismorefully
developed,elaborate,andnonabstract,aplacewherethisexchangebetweentheworldand
manoccurs.Thesummitistheplacefromwhichthewholemassifisseeninanabsoluteway,
whileviewsfromallotherplacesarerelativeandincomplete,makingonewishforthe
summitpointofview.Anexpeditionoranavigationthatmakesitpossibletoreacha
continentbyanestablishedroutedoesnotconqueranything;nevertheless,inmagical
thinkingtheyarevalidinthattheymakepossiblecontactwiththecontinentinaprivileged
placethatisakeypoint. Themagicaluniverseismadeupofthenetworkofplacesproviding
accesstoeverydomainofreality:itconsistsofthresholds,summits,boundaries,andcrossing
pointsthatareconnectedtooneanotherbytheirsingularityandtheirexceptionalnature.
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Thisnetworkofboundariesisnotonlyspatialbutalsotemporal;therearenotable
datesandprivilegedmomentstobeginoneactionoranother.Besides,theverynotionof
beginningismagical,evenifeveryparticularvalueisdeniedonthedateofthebeginning;the
beginningofanactionthatistolastandthefirstactofwhatshouldbealongseriesought
nottohaveinthemselvesaparticularmajestyandpowerofdirection,iftheywerethought
tobecontrollingtheentiredurationoftheactionandthewholesequenceofefforts,
propitiousorotherwise;datesareprivilegedpointsoftimethatmakepossibleanexchange
betweenhumanintentionandthespontaneousunfoldingofevents. Thesearethetemporal
structuresbywhichmanisinsertedinnaturalbecoming,justastheinfluenceofnaturaltime
affectseachhumanlife,becomingdestiny.
Incivilizedlifetoday,agreatmanyinstitutionsconcernmagicalthinking,butare
hiddenbyutilitarianconceptsthatindirectlyjustifythem;inparticular,timeoff,festivals,and
vacationscompensatewiththeirmagicalchargeforthelossofmagicalpowerimposedby
civilizedurbanlife. Thus,vacationtrips,thatarethoughttoproviderestanddiversion,arein
factaquestforkeypointsoldornew;thesepointscanbethebigcityforcountrypeople,or
thecountrysideforcitydwellers,butmoregenerallytheyarenotanyparticularsiteinthe
cityorthecountryside;it[thekeypoint]istheshoreorthehighmountainoreventhe
bordercrossedonthewaytoaforeignland.Publicholidaysarerelatedtoprivileged
momentsoftime;occasionally,aconjunctionofsingularmomentsandsingularsitesis
possible.
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So,ordinarytimeandordinaryspaceserveasgroundforthesefigures;dissociated
fromtheground,figureswouldlosetheirmeaning;timeoffandcelebrationsarenota
releasefromordinarylifebysuspendingordinarylife,butasearchforprivilegedplacesand
datesinrelationtothecontinuousground.
Thisfiguralstructureisinherentintheworld,ratherthandetached;itisthe
reticulationoftheuniverseinprivilegedkeypointsatwhichexchangeshappenbetweenthe
livingbeinganditsmilieu. Now,itispreciselythisreticularstructurethatgoesoutofphase
whenthereisashiftfromtheoriginalmagicalunitytotechnicsandtoreligion:figureand
groundseparatebybecomingdetachedfromtheuniversetowhichtheyadhered. Thekey
pointsbecomeobjective,retainingonlytheirfunctionalmediatorycharacteristics,becoming
instrumental,mobile,capableofefficiencyinanyplaceandatanytime;asfigure,thekey
points,detachedfromthegroundforwhichtheywerethekey,becometechnicalobjects,
transportableand abstractedfromthemilieu.Atthesametime,thekeypointslosetheir
mutualreticulationandtheirpowerofdistantinfluenceontherealitythatsurroundedthem;
astechnicalobjectstheyhaveonlyoneactionuponcontact,sitebysite,instantbyinstant.
Thisruptureofthenetworkofkeypointsfreesthecharacteristicsoftheground,andthesein
turnbecomedetachedfromtheirownground,narrowlyqualitativeandconcrete,inorderto
hoveroverthewholeuniverse,throughoutspaceandthroughouttime,intheformof
detachedpowersandforcesabovetheworld.Whilethekeypointsbecomeobjectiveinthe
formofconcretizedtoolsandinstruments,thegroundpowersbecomesubjectiveby
becomingpersonifiedintheformofthedivineandthesacred(Gods,heroes,priests).
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Theprimitivereticulationofthemagicalworldisthusthesourceofanobjectification
andasubjectificationthatareinconflict;atthemomentoftheruptureoftheinitial
structuring,thefactthatthefigurebecomesdetachedfromthegroundisexpressedby
anotherdetachment:figureandgroundthemselvesarefreedfromtheirconcreteadherence
totheuniverseandtakecontrastingpathways;thefigurebecomesfragmented,whereasthe
groundqualitiesandforcesbecomeuniversalized:thisbreakupandthisuniversalizingare
formsofbecoming,thefigurebecominganabstractfigure,andgroundsbecomingasingle
abstractground.Thisphaseshiftofthemediationintofiguralcharacteristicsandground
characteristicstranslatesintotheemergenceofadistancebetweenmanandtheworld.The
meditationitself,insteadofbeingasimplestructuringoftheuniverse,takesonacertain
density;itbecomesobjectifiedintechnicsandbecomessubjectifiedinreligion,makingthe
firstobjectappearinthetechnicalobjectandthefirstsubjectappearindivinity,when
previouslytherehadbeenasingleunityofthelivinganditsmilieu:objectivityand
subjectivityemerge
between
the
living
and
its
milieu,
between
man
and
the
world,
at
a
momentwhentheworlddoesnotyethaveacompletestatusasobjectnormanacomplete
statusassubject.Moreover,itcanbeaffirmedthatobjectivityisnevercompletely
coextensivewiththeworld,andthatsubjectivityisnevercompletelycoextensivewithman.
Itisonlywhentheworldisenvisagedfromatechnicistperspectiveandmanisenvisaged
from
a
religious
perspective
that
one
can
be
called
a
complete
object
and
the
other
a
completesubject.Pureobjectivityandpuresubjectivityaremodesofthemediationbetween
manandtheworld,intheirfirstform.
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Religionandtechnicsaretheorganizationoftwosymmetricalandcontrasting
mediations;buttheyformacouple,sinceeachisbutonephaseoftheprimitive
mediation.Inthissense,theydonothaveadefinitiveautonomy. Furthermore,evenwhen
takeninthesystemthattheyform,theycannotbeconsideredasenclosingallthereal,since
theyarebetweenmanandtheworld,butdonotcontaintheentirerealityofmanandofthe
world,andcannotapplytoitinacompleteway.Becauseofthegapbetweenthesetwo
opposingaspectsofmediation,scienceandethicsdeepentherelationbetweenmanandthe
world.Withregardtoscienceandtoethics,thetwoprimitivemediationsplayanormative
role:scienceandethicsarebornintheintervaldefinedbythegapbetweentechnicsand
religion,byfollowingthemediandirection;theprecedencethatreligionandtechnicshaveto
scienceandethicsisofthesameorderastheprecedencethatlineslimitingananglehaveto
thebisectorofthatangle:thesidesoftheanglemaybeindicatedbyshortsegments,
whereasthebisectorcanbeextendedindefinitely.Likewise,fromthegapthatexists
betweenvery
primitive
technics
and
avery
primitive
religion,
avery
elaborate
science
and
veryelaborateethicscanbeprogressivelyconstructedwithoutbeinglimitedby,butonly
directedby,thebasicconditionsoftechnicsandreligion.
Theoriginofthedivisionthatcreatedtechnicalthinkingandreligiousthinkingcanbe
attributedtoaprimitivestructureofreticulationthatistrulyfunctional.Thisdivision
separatedfigurefromground,figureprovidingthecontentoftechnics,andgroundproviding
thatofreligion.Whereasinthemagicalreticulationoftheworld,figureandgroundare
reciprocalrealities,technicsandreligionemergewhenfigureandgroundbecomedetached
fromoneanother,inthiswaybecomingmobile,divisible,displaceable,anddirectlyopento
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manipulationbecausedisconnectedfromtheworld.Technicalthinkingretainsonlythe
schematismofstructures,ofwhatmakesuptheefficiencyofactiononsingularsites;these
singularsites,detachedfromtheworldofwhichtheywerethefigure,detachedalsofrom
oneanother,losingtheirimmobilizingreticularconcatenation,becomedivisibleand
receptiveaswellasreproducibleandconstructible. Theelevatedplacebecomesan
observationpost,awatchtowerconstructedintheplain,oratowerplacedattheentranceto
agorge.Atthebeginning,technicsareoftencontenttodevelopaprivilegedplace,aswhen
constructingatoweratthesummitofahill,orplacingalighthouseonapromontoryatthe
mostvisiblepoint.Buttechnicscanalsosuccessfullycreatethefunctionalityofprivileged
sites. Ofnaturalrealitiestechnicsretainonlythefiguralpower,notthesiteandnatural
localizationonadeterminedgroundgivenpriortoanyhumanintervention.Dividingthe
schematismsmoreandmore,itmakessomethingintoatooloraninstrument,thatistosay,
afragmentdetachedfromtheworldcapableofworkingefficientlyinanylocationandunder
anyconditions,
site
by
site,
according
to
the
intention
that
directs
it
and
at
the
moment
whenmansowishes.Theaccessibilityofthetechnicalthingconsistsinitsbeingfreedfrom
servitudetothegroundoftheworld. Technicsareanalytic,operatingprogressivelyandby
contact,leavingasideconnectionbyinfluence.Inmagicthesingularplacepermitsaction
overawholedomain,justastalkingtothekingisenoughtowinoverawholepeople.In
technics,
on
the
other
hand,
all
of
reality
must
be
examined,
touched
and
treated
by
the
technicalobject,detachedfromtheworldandavailableforuseinanysiteatanymoment.
Thetechnicalobjectisdistinguishablefromthenaturalbeinginthesensethatitisnotpartof
theworld. Itintervenesasmediatorbetweenmanandtheworld;itis,therefore,thefirst
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detachedobject,fortheworldisaunity,amilieuratherthananensembleofobjects;there
areinfactthreetypesofreality:theworld,thesubject,andtheobject,whichisan
intermediarybetweentheworldandthesubject,theprimaryformofwhichisthetechnical
object.
III.DIVERGENCEOFTECHNICALTHINKINGANDOFRELIGIOUSTHINKING
Technicalthinking,whichresultsfromtheruptureoftheprimitivereticularstructure
ofthemagicalworld,andwhichretainsthosefiguralelementsthatcanbedepositedin
objects,tools,orinstruments,gainsfromthisdetachmentanaccessibilitythatmakes
possibleitsapplicationtoeveryelementoftheworld. However,thisrupturealsoproducesa
deficit:thetoolorthetechnicalinstrumenthasretainedonlyitsfiguralcharacteristics,and
figuralaspectsthataredetachedfromthegroundwithwhichtheyhadoncebeendirectly
connectedsincetheycamefromaprimarystructuringthatcausedfigureandgroundto
springupasasingleandcontinuousreality.Inthemagicaluniverse,thefigurewasthefigure
ofagroundandthegroundthegroundofafigure;thereal,theunityofthereal,wasatonce
figureandground;thequestionofapossiblelackofeffectivenessofthefigureontheground
oroftheinfluenceofthegroundonthefigurecouldnothavearisen,sincefigureandground
constitutedasingleunityofbeing.Ontheotherhand,inthecaseoftechnics,afterthe
rupture,whatthetechnicalobjectretainedoffiguralcharacteristicsandmadethem
permanentfindsanygroundwhateveranonymousandforeign.Thetechnicalobjecthas
becomeabearerofform,aremnantoffiguralcharacteristics,andittriestoapplythatform
toagroundthatisnowdetachedfromthefigure,becauseithaslostitsintimateinherent
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relationshipandbecauseitcanbeinformedbyanyformencountered,butinaviolent,more
orlessimperfectmanner;figureandgroundhavebecomestrangersandabstractinrelation
tooneother.
Thehylemorphicschemadoesnotsolelydescribethegenesisoflivingbeings;itmight
notevendescribeitessentially.Perhapsalsoitdoesnotderivefromawellthoughtoutand
conceptualizedexperienceoftechnics:beforetheknowledgeofthelivingbeingandbefore
reflectionontechnics,thisimplicitadequacyoffigureandgroundisbrokenbytechnics. If
thehylemorphicschemaseemsdisengagedfromtechnicalexperience,thisisbecauseitis
moreanormandanidealthananexperienceofthereal.Technicalexperience,makinguse
ofvestigesoffiguralelementsandvestigesofgroundcharacteristics,revivestheprimary
intuitionofamutualadherenceofmatterandform,ofacouplingprecedinganydivision.In
thissense,thehylemorphicschemaiscorrect,notbecauseofthelogicaluseofitinancient
philosophy,butasanintuitionofthestructureoftheuniverseformanbeforethebirthof
technics.Thisrelationcannotbeorganizedasahierarchy:itcannothaveinitincreasingly
successiveandincreasinglyabstractstagesofmatterandofform,becausetherealmodelof
therelationbetweenmatterandformistheprimarystructuringoftheuniverseasfigureand
ground;now,thisstructuringistrueonlyifitisnotabstract,ifitisatonestageonly;the
groundisreallygroundandthefigurereallyfigure,anditcannotbecomegroundforahigher
figure.ThemannerinwhichAristotledescribestherelationsbetweenformandmatter,in
particularthesuppositionthatmatteraspirestoform(matteraspirestoformasthefemale
tothemale)isalreadyfarfromprimitivemagicalthinking,forthataspirationcanonlyexistif
therehadbeenanearlierdetachment;so,itisasinglebeingthatisatoncematterandform.
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Furthermore,perhapsoneshouldnotsaythatonlytheindividualbeingismadeupofmatter
andform;becausetheemergenceofafiguregroundstructureispriortoanysegregationof
units. Themutualrelationofcorrespondencebetweenagivenkeypointandagivenground
neitherpresupposestheisolationofthekeypointfromthenetworkofotherkeypointsnor
thediscontinuityofthisgroundfromothergrounds:itisauniversethatisstructuredinthis
way,notanensembleofindividuals.Thefirstdetachedbeingstoemergeaftertheruptureof
theprimitivereticulationaretechnicalobjectsandreligioussubjects,andtheyare
responsibleforfiguralcharacteristicsastheyareforgroundcharacteristics:therefore,they
donotfullypossessmatterandform.
Thedissociationoftheprimitivestructuringfromthemagicaluniverseentailsaseries
ofconsequencesfortechnicsandreligion,andthroughthemitconditionsthelater
developmentofscienceandofethics. Infact,unitybelongstothemagicalworld.Thephase
shiftthatmakesforanoppositionbetweentechnicsandreligion,inanirreduciblewayleaves
technicalcontentwithastatuslesserthanunityandleavesreligiouscontentwithastatus
greaterthanunity. Thiscausesalltheotherconsequences.Aproperunderstandingofthe
statusofthetechnicityofobjectsdependsonitsbeinggraspedintermsofthedevelopment
thatputtheprimitiveunityoutofphase. Religion,retainingitsgroundcharacteristics
(homogeneity,qualitativenature,indistinctionofelementswithinasystemofmutual
influences,longrangeactionacrossspaceandtimeresultinginubiquityandeternity),
representstheimplementationofthefunctionsoftotality. Aparticularbeing,aprecise
objectofattentionorofeffort,isalwaysconsideredinreligiousthoughttobesmallerthan
realunity,inferiortothetotalityandincludedwithinit,exceededbythetotalityofspace,
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andprecededandfollowedbytheimmensityoftime. Whethersubjectorobject,theobject,
thebeing,theindividualisalwaysunderstoodtobelessthanunity,tobedominatedbya
presagedtotalitythatinfinitelytranscendsit. Thesourceofthetranscendenceliesinthe
functionoftotalitythatdominatestheparticularbeing;inthereligiousviewofthingsthis
particularbeingisunderstoodin relationtoatotalityinwhichitparticipates,becauseof
whichitexists,butwhichitcannevercompletelyexpress. Religionuniversalizesthefunction
oftotality,whichisdissociatedandconsequentlyfreedfromanyfiguralattachmentthat
limitsit;thegroundsconnectedtotheworldinmagicalthinkingandconsequentlylimitedby
theverystructuringofthemagicaluniverse,becomeinreligiousthinkingalimitless
background,spatialaswellastemporal.Theyretaintheirpositivegroundqualities(forces,
powers,influences,quality),butridthemselvesoftheirlimitsandtheadherencethat
attachedthemtoahicetnunc.Theybecomeabsoluteground,totalityofground.
Advancementintheuniversebeginsfromliberatedand,tosomeextent,abstractmagical
grounds.
Religiousthinking,afterthedisjunctionofgroundandfigure,retainstheotherpartof
themagicalworld:theground,withitsqualities,itstensions,itsforces;butthisground,too,
likethefiguralschemasoftechnics,becomessomethingdetachedfromtheworld,
abstractedfromtheprimitivemilieu.Andjustasthefiguralschemasoftechnics,freedfrom
theiradherencetotheworld,areaffixedtotoolorinstrumentinthecourseofbecoming
objectified,thequalitiesofgroundthattechnicitymakesavailableinthemobilizationof
figuresareaffixedtosubjects.Technicalobjectificationleadingtotheemergenceofthe
technicalobject,themediatorbetweenmanandtheworld,hasacounterpartinreligious
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subjectification. Justastechnicalmediationisinstitutedbymeansofsomethingthat
becomesatechnicalobject,soreligiousmediationemergesasaresultoftheaffixingof
groundcharacteristicsonsubjects,realorimaginary,divinitiesorpriests. Religious
subjectificationnormallyleadstomediationbythepriest,whiletechnicalmediationleadsto
mediationbythetechnicalobject.Technicityretainsthefiguralcharacteristicsofthe
primitivecomplexofmanandtheworld,whilereligiosityretainsthegroundcharacteristics.
Technicityandreligiosityareneitherdegradedformsofmagicnorrelicsofmagic;
theyissuefromthedivisionoftheprimitivemagicalcomplex,thereticulationoftheoriginal
humanmilieuintofigureandground. Itisthroughtheircouplingthattechnicsandreligion
aretheheirsofmagic,notthrougheachonitsown. Religionisnotmoremagicalthan
technics;itisthesubjectivephaseoftheresultofdivision,whereastechnicsarethe
objectivephaseoftheverysamedivision.Technicsandreligionarecontemporariesofeach
other,and,wheneachistakenseparately,theyaremoreimpoverishedthanthemagicfrom
whichtheyemerge.
Religion,therefore,hasbynaturethevocationtorepresenttheexigencyofthe
totality;whenitdividesintoatheoreticalmodeandapracticalmode,throughtheologyit
becomestheexigencyofasystematicrepresentationoftherealasanabsoluteunity;
through
morality,
it
becomes
for
ethics
the
exigency
of
absolute
norms
of
action
that
are
justifiedinthenameofthetotalityandsuperiortoallhypothetical,thatistosayparticular,
imperatives;toscienceastoethics,religionbringsaprincipleofreferencetothetotality,
whichistheaspirationtotheunityoftheoreticalknowledgeandtotheabsolutecharacterof
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themoralimperative.Religiousinspirationconstitutesapermanentreminderoftherelativity
ofoneparticularbeingwithrespecttoanunconditionaltotalityexceedingeveryobjectand
everysubjectofknowledgeandofaction.
Conversely,technicshaveacontentthatisalwayssubordinatetothestatusofthe
unity,becausetheschemasofefficiencyandthestructuresresultingfromthefragmentation
oftheprimitivenetworkofkeypointscannotbeappliedtothetotalityoftheworld. By
nature,technicalobjectsaremultipleanddivided;technicalthinking,enclosedinthis
plurality,canprogress,butonlybymultiplyingtechnicalobjects,withoutbeingableto
recapturetheprimitiveunity.Evenwhenmultiplyingtechnicalobjectsendlessly,itis
impossibletofindanabsoluteadequacytotheworld,sinceeachoftheobjectsattacksthe
worldinoneplaceonlyandinonemomentonly;itislocalized,particularized;adding
technicalobjectsonetoanothercanneitherremaketheworldnorregaincontactwiththe
worldinitsunity,whichwastheaimofmagicalthinking.
Inconnectionwithaspecificobjectorwithaspecifictask,technicalthinkingisalways
inferiortounity:itcanpresentseveralobjectsandseveralmeans,andselectthebest;but
nonetheless,italwaysremainsinadequatetothewholenessoftheunityoftheobjectorof
thetask. Eachschema,eachobject,eachtechnicaloperation,iscontrolledandguidedbythe
whole
from
which
it
derives
its
ends
and
its
orientation,
and
which
provides
it
with
a
never
attainedprincipleofunitythatisexpressedbycombiningandmultiplyingitsschemas.
Technicalthinkinghasbynaturethevocationtorepresentthepointofviewofthe
element;itadherestotheelementaryfunction.Oncetechnicityisadmittedintoadomainit
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breaksitupandstartsachainofsuccessiveandelementarymediationsgovernedbythe
unityofthedomainandsubordinatedtoit. Technicalthinkingconceivestheoperationofan
ensembleasachainofelementaryprocessesworkingpointbypointandstepbystep;it
localizesandmultipliestheschemasofmediation,alwaysremaininglesserthantheunity.
Theelementintechnicalthinkingismorestable,betterunderstood,andinacertainway
moreperfectthantheensemble;itisreallyanobject,whereastheensemblealwaysremains
toacertainextentinherentintheworld. Religiousthinkingfindstheoppositeequilibrium:in
it,thetotalityismorestable,morepowerful,andmoreviablethantheelement.
Inthetheoreticaldomainasintheethicaldomain,technicsareconcernedwiththe
element.Inthesciencesthecontributionoftechnicsconsistedinmakingpossiblea
representationofphenomenaonebyonebybreakingthemdownintosimpleelementary
processessimilartotheoperationsoftechnicalobjects;suchistheroleofthemechanistic
hypothesisthatenabledDescartestorepresenttherainbowasanoverallresultofthepoint
bypointtrajectorytakenbyeachluminouscorpuscleineachdropofraininacloud;andit
wasalsoaccordingtothesamemethodthatDescartesdescribesthefunctioningoftheheart
bybreakingdownacompletecycleintosimplesuccessiveoperationsandshowingthatthe
functioningofthewholeistheresultoftheplayofelementsnecessitatedbytheirparticular
disposition(forexample,thatofeachvalve). Descartesdoesnotaskhimselfwhytheheartis
madeinthisway,withvalvesandcavities,buthowitworksgivenhowitismade.The
applicationofschemasdrawnfromtechnicsdoesnotaccountfortheexistenceofthe
totality,takenasaunity,butdoesaccountforthepointbypointandinstantbyinstant
functioningofthattotality.
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Intheethicaldomain,technicalthinkingnotonlyintroducesmeansofactionthatare
fragmentaryandtiedtothecapacitiesofeachobjectthatisbecomingautensil,butalsoa
certainreduplication
of
the
action
by
technicity;
aspecific
human
action,
considered
with
respecttoitsresults,couldhavebeenaccomplishedbyaspecifictechnicalfunctioninggoing
throughvariousstages;elementsandmomentsofactionhavetheirtechnicalanalogue;an
effortofattention,ofmemory,couldhavebeenreplacedbyatechnicaloperation;technicity
providesapartialequivalencetotheresultsofaction;itaccentuatesawarenessoftheaction
bythebeingwhobringsittocompletionintheformofresults;itbroadcastsandobjectifies
theresultsoftheactionthroughcomparisonwiththoseofthetechnicaloperation,breaking
downtheactionintopartialresults,intoelementarycompletions.Justasinthesciences
technicityintroducesthesearchforthehowbyabreakingdownofensemblephenomena
intoelementaryoperations,so,inethicstechnicityintroducesthesearchforabreakingdown
oftheoverallactionintotheelementsofaction;becausethetotalactionisenvisagedasthat
whichproducesaresult,thebreakdownoftheactiongeneratedbytechnicsconsidersthe
elementsoftheactionasgesturesthatachievepartialresults.Technicityassumesthatan
actionislimitedtoitsresults;itisnotconcernedwiththesubjectoftheactiontakeninits
realtotality,norevenwithanactioninitstotality,totheextentthatthetotalityoftheaction
isfoundedontheunityofthesubject.Inethicsconcernwithresultsistheanalogueofthe
searchforthehowinthesciences;resultandprocessremainsubordinatetotheunityofthe
actionortotheensembleofthereal.
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Thepostulationofanabsoluteandunconditionaljustificationwhichreligiondirects
towardethicstranslatesintoasearchfortheintentionasopposedtoasearchfortheresult
thatisinspiredbytechnics.Inthesciences,religiousthinkingintroducesanappealfor
absolutetheoreticalunitythatrequiresasearchforthesenseofbecomingandtheexistence
ofgivenphenomena(hencerespondingtothewhy?),whereastechnicalthinkingoffersan
examinationofthehow?foreachofthephenomena.
Becauseitscontentisinferiortounity,technicalthinkingistheparadigmforall
inductivethinking,bothinthetheoreticalorderandinthepractical.Itcontainsthisinductive
processinitself,priortoanyseparationintopracticalandtheoreticalmodes.Induction,in
fact,isnotmerelyalogicalprocessinthestrictsenseoftheterm;anyprocesscanbe
consideredtobeaprocessoftheinductivetypeifitscontentisinferiorthestatusofunity,if
itstrivestoattainunityor,atleast,ifittendstowardunityfromapluralityofelements,each
ofwhichisinferiortounity. Whatinductiontakesholdof,whatitstartsfrom,isanelement
thatinitselfisnotsufficientandcomplete,anddoesnotconstituteaunity;so,itexceeds
eachparticularelementbycombiningitwithotherelementsthatarethemselvesparticular,
inordertofindananalogueofunity:ininductionthereisasearchforthegroundofreality
fromfiguralelementsthatarefragments;totrytofindalawbeneathphenomena,asinthe
inductionofBaconandStuartMill,ortotrytofindonlywhatiscommontoallindividualsof
agivenspecies,asinAristotlesinduction,istopostulatethatbeyondthepluralityof
phenomenaandofindividualsthereexistsastableandcommongroundforreality,thatis
theunityofthereal.
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Itisnodifferentinethicsthatwoulddirectlyderivefromtechnics;towantthewhole
durationoflifetobeaseriesofmoments,toextractfromeachsituationwhatispleasantin
it, andtowanttoconstructthehappinessoflifebyaccumulatingitsagreeableelements,as
didancientEudaimonismorUtilitarianism,istoproceedinaninductivemanner,bytryingto
replacetheunityofthedurationoflifeandtheunityofhumanaspirationwithapluralityof
instantsandwiththehomogeneityofallsuccessivedesires.Theelaborationtowhich
Epicureanismsubmitsdesireshasonegoalonly,whichistoincorporatethemintothe
continuityofanexistencethatproceedsinanaccumulativemanner:forthis,eachofthe
desiresmustbedominatedandsurroundedbythesubject,madelesserthanunity,sothatit
canbetreatedandmanipulatedasagenuineelement. Thisiswhythepassionsare
eliminated,sincetheycannotbetreatedaselements;theyarelargerthantheunityofthe
subject;theydominateit,theycomefromfartherawaythanitandtendtogofartheron
thanit,obligingittoexceeditslimits.Lucretiustriestodestroythepassionsfromwithin,by
showingthat
they
are
based
on
errors;
in
fact,
he
fails
to
account
for
the
element
of
tendencyinpassion, thatistosay,fortheforcethatisinsertedintothesubjectandyetis
moreextensivethanit,aforceinrelationtowhichitseemstobeaverylimitedbeing;
tendencycannotbeconsideredtobecontainedwithinthesubjectasaunity. Wisdom,
havingrestoredtheforcesattheoriginofactiontoastatusofinferioritywithrespecttothe
unity
of
the
moral
subject,
can
organize
them
as
elements
and
reconstruct
a
moral
subject
withinthenaturalsubject;however,thismoralsubjectnevercompletelyattainsthelevelof
unity;betweenthereconstructedmoralsubjectandthenaturalsubjectthereremainsavoid
impossibletofill;theinductiveapproachremainsinplurality;itconstructsanetworkof
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elements,butthisnetworkcannotamounttoarealunity. Allethicaltechnicsleavethe
moralsubjectunsatisfiedbecausetheyignoreitsunity;thesubjectcannotbecontentwitha
lifethatwouldbeaseries,evenanuninterruptedseries,ofhappymoments;alifethatis
perfectlysuccessfulelementbyelementisstillnotamorallife;itlackswhatmakesitthelife
ofasubject:unity.
Butconversely,religiousthinking,thefoundationofobligation,createsinethical
thoughtasearchforunconditionaljustificationwhichmakeseveryactandeverysubject
appeartobeinferiortorealunity;whenrelatedtoatotalitythatexpandsendlessly,the
moralactandsubjectderivetheirsignificancesolelyfromtheirrelationwiththistotality;the
communicationbetweenthetotalityandthesubjectisprecarious,becauseateverymoment
thesubjectisdrawnbacktothedimensionofitsownunity,whichisnotthatofthetotality;
theethicalsubjectisdecenteredbyreligiousexigency.
GilbertSimondon,1958,
translatedby
NinianMellamphy(DepartmentofEnglish,UniversityofWesternOntario,London),
DanMellamphy(CentrefortheStudyofTheoryandCriticism,UniversityofWesternOntario,London),and
NanditaBiswasMellamphy(DepartmentofPoliticalScience,UniversityofWesternOntario,London),
2010.
ForthcomingfromSemiotext(e).