Simondon:
Imagination and Invention

Instructor: Cecile Malaspina Date & Time: September 28th, October 12th, 19th, November 9th, 16th, 23rd, December 7th, 14th 14:00-16:30 ET

DESCRIPTION: This Survey Seminar will offer students of the New Centre a collaborative close reading of the recently published English translation by Joe Hughes and Christophe Wall-Romana of Gilbert Simondon’s seminal work, Imagination and Invention.

Imagination and Invention is a lecture series delivered by Simondon at the Sorbonne’s Institute of Psychology in 1965-66. It offers a profound reorganization of the basic concepts of the relation between imaginative processes and inventive practices prevalent in psychology and philosophy. It is a special privilege to welcome two guest speakers for this Seminar, Andrea Zoppis and Andrea Bardin. Zoppis’ session will provide invaluable philosophical context by situating Simondon’s work on the imagination vis-à-vis two key contemporaries, Mikel Dufrenne and François Lyotard. Bardin, on the other hand, will enrich the Seminar with a critical comparison of Simondon’s book and the almost homonymous 1962–1963 lecture at the Sorbonne, Imagination, by Juliette Favez-Boutonier.

This Seminar will delve into Simondon’s concept of the image-object, emphasizing its multifaceted role in synthesizing contemporary realities and social norms. In Imagination and Invention, Simondon posits that the image serves as a pivotal mediator between subjective experiences and objective truths, enabling a dynamic interaction between the concrete and the abstract. We will discuss the dual nature of images as both mental constructs and tangible artifacts, their significance in memory and foresight, and their influence on decision-making and cultural expression. By analyzing Simondon’s approach to the proliferation and mediation of images, participants will gain a novel perspective on how the imagination drives invention and shapes human experience. This Seminar provides a comprehensive overview of Simondon’s theories, and a refined understanding of what Simondon took to be the vital role of both imagination and invention in various domains of life.

This close reading of Gilbert Simondon’s Imagination and Invention will enable Students of the New Centre to familiarize themselves with the core arguments and to clarify key concepts. By situating this work within its historical and philosophical context, this close reading will also position Simondon’s ideas with respect to other philosophical theories and enable us to reflect together on their ethical and practical implications. Students will actively engage in discussions, presentations and their final written, visual or sound assignment, honing their critical thinking and communication skills. They will be encouraged to extrapolate from Simondon’s insights into the mediating role of images between subjective and objective realms, in order to think about contemporary issues relevant to the arts, but also to recent developments in the theory of evolution of cognitive processes and intelligence. Simondon’s concept of the plurifunctionality of images notably will offer an original angle on current inquiries into neural activity and cognitive development, but also artificial intelligence and the widely accepted analogy between AI and human image processing and imaginative capabilities.

By integrating Simondon’s philosophical insights with contemporary techno-aesthetic and techno-scientific theories, this Seminar fosters original thinking with respect to the intricate relationships between imagination, cognition, and technological innovation.

Key Topics:
1. The Role of the Image as Mediator
2. Plurifunctionality of the Image-Object
3. Integration of Contemporary Realities and Social Norms
4. Phenomenological Analysis of Images
5. Memory, Anticipation, and Decision-Making
6. Cultural and Expressive Significance of Images
7. Contemporary relevance vis-à-vis contemporary art practice and theory, as well as developments in cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence

Learning Objectives:
• Understand Simondon’s theoretical framework on imagination and invention.
• Explore the interplay between subjective and objective realms through images.
• Analyze the multifaceted nature of image-objects in contemporary society.
• Discuss the implications of Simondon’s theories on memory, anticipation, and culture.

IMAGE: Zanis Waldheims No. 209, Detail, 1969.

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