Abstract
Chapter 5 takes the discussion back to Simondon and his reconsideration of technical objects. Simondon creates a quasi-biological notion of the evolution of technical objects, although keeping in mind the difference between technical objects and living beings. Simondon’s insights can be traced to Georges Canguilhem, who proposed the term ‘organology’. Organology examines technical invention as ‘a universal biological phenomenon’ and redefines machines as organs of the human species. Bernard Stiegler significantly elaborated the notion of ‘general organology’ and asserted that human life can be maintained only through the invention of tools and the organisation of the inorganic. Stiegler explained ‘general organology’ as a theory encompassing the articulation of bodily organs, technological objects and social organisations. In this respect, Stiegler’s ‘general organology’ allows us to compare biological, technological and social individuation as different stages of collective ontogenesis. The notion of organology is further elaborated by Yuk Hui, who argues that technical objects become organic in the sense that they incorporate organic properties, such as recursivity and contingency. Thus, ‘general organology’ is a theory which explains technology through the model of the organism and of organic properties characteristic to living beings.
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