Philosophy of/as Information and the Technical Object in Simondon, Floridi, and Whitehead

We discuss Ashley Woodward’s paper on Simondon: “Philosophy of/as Information”

Here’s a ChatGPT4o summary:

Matt greeted Tim, sharing about the warm weather in Oakland and the ongoing Independence Day celebrations with fireworks already exploding despite it being 4 o’clock in the afternoon. They had both read Luciano Floridi’s work on Philosophy of Information and Ashley Woodward’s article on Simondon in preparation for this dialogue. Matt expressed his appreciation for Floridi's balanced approach, merging analytic and continental philosophies seamlessly.

The conversation turned to information theory and cybernetics. They reflected on Norbert Wiener's insights and the significant moral implications that information technologies carry. They touched upon the historical context of these technologies, referencing how radio had been a powerful tool for propaganda during World War II and comparing it to the pervasive influence of modern digital information systems.

Timothy brought Heidegger into the discussion, exploring his views on technology, particularly the concept of "enframing," which describes technology as a mode of revealing the world. Heidegger’s caution about mistaking calculation for thinking resonated strongly, highlighting the existential risk of losing the ability to think meaningfully in a world dominated by computational systems.

Matt and Tim examined the concepts of individuation and primary information in Simondon’s work. They explored Simondon's notion of the pre-individual milieu and how the process of individuation is central to understanding the nature of information. Timothy pointed out Simondon’s critique of traditional hylomorphic models, emphasizing the active role of the material in the process of individuation.

Matt then drew parallels between Simondon and Whitehead, particularly around the idea of eternal objects. They debated the nature of definiteness versus determinacy, considering how eternal objects might be interpreted within Simondon’s framework to make Whitehead’s ideas more accessible and less platonic.

Throughout their discussion, the importance of human mediation in information transmission and control was a recurring theme. Unlike machines, humans are the real timekeepers, the ones who imbue information with meaning and context. This distinction underscored the limitations of machines and the irreplaceable role of human consciousness in the informational ecosystem.

They also touched on the contemporary relevance of philosophy, particularly in addressing the pressing issues of the digital age. The conversation underscored the need for philosophy to be timely, engaging with the challenges posed by social media and the digital marketplace of ideas.

Watch the video of this conversation here:

Get full access to Footnotes2Plato at footnotes2plato.substack.com/subscribe