Anarchism, Technology, and Simondon
Making Elective Affinities Visible
Keywords:
Anarchist theory of science and technology; Gilbert Simondon; Anarchism and technologyAbstract
This article discusses the appropriation of concepts from the French philosopher Gilbert Simondon in contemporary anarchist thought, especially in its reflections on technology. To this end, we present the connection between anarchism and Simondon, using the texts of the philosopher and historian Daniel Colson. Subsequently, we develop an analysis of the problematization of Simondon's concepts in the discussion of technology by libertarian thinkers, such as the basque anarchist philosopher and activist Xabier Barandarian and the proponent of techno-anarchism, A. T. Kingsmith. This analysis demonstrates that the process of critical appropriation of Simondonian concepts interacts with a long tradition of values and struggles that permeate the various facets of anarchist critical theory of technology, strengthening awareness of new relational potentialities between technical objects and human beings, and potentially leading to ruptures with linear and deterministic views of science, technology, and society.
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