Glossary

Ontogenesis (Simondon)

Ontogenesis, often synonymous with ontogeny, describes the development and growth of an organism from the earliest stage to its mature form. This process encompasses all transformations starting from a single cell (such as a zygote) through to the formation of structures and functions within an adult organism. It includes both the physical and the biological aspects of growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Ontogenesis is a fundamental concept in developmental biology, illustrating how genetic and environmental factors interact to shape the life cycle of living beings. The concept has been appropriated and repurposed for science and technology by French philosopher Gilbert Simondon. His innovative approach is primarily detailed in his seminal work, Individuation in light of the notions of form and information, published in 1958. Simondon's concept of ontogenesis diverges from traditional notions by focusing on the processes and dynamics that give rise to individual entities, rather than viewing individuals as pre-determined or static entities. Simondon argues that the process of individuation is fundamental to understanding ontogenesis. Individuation is the process through which a pre-individual reality (a metastable state containing potential energy and tensions) differentiates into distinct individuals or forms. This contrasts with views that consider individuals as primary or given. This view implicitly criticizes Aristotelian hylomorphism with its clear cut separation of form and content. For Simondon, individuation is always incomplete, meaning that the individual is always in relation to the pre-individual from which it emerged and remains partly undifferentiated. Simondon's rethinking of ontogenesis has had a profound impact on philosophy, particularly in the fields of technology studies, media theory, and the philosophy of science. His work challenges us to consider the dynamic, relational, and processual nature of being, emphasizing the unfolding of potentialities into individuated forms through interaction with their environments.