Living Systems in the context of non-reductionist materialism of Gilbert Simondon

The subject of this study is the problem of individuation of a living system (ontogenesis of a vital individual) considered by the French philosopher Gilbert Simondon (1924–1989), which is the process where life arises and perpetuates itself. Simondon argues that individuation in a living system is carried out within itself. A living system is defined by its external boundaries and its internal processes, which are constantly adapted to both the environment and the internal structure. In addition, biological individuation is the organization of a solution, namely, the resolution of an objectively problematic living system. This solution should be understood as an internal resonance, the most primitive way of communication between realities of different orders. Therefore, we believe that Simondon managed to turn internal resonance into an extremely rich scientific and philosophical concept suitable for the explication of a living system. The research methodology includes such general scientific approaches as the descriptive method, the categorization method, the analysis method, the observation method and the comparative method. It should be noted that this article has an exploratory character, oriented towards understanding Simondon's philosophy and its relevance today. Moreover, it is aimed not only at understanding the living system as non-identical to itself, but also seeks to show that we think about life within the framework of Simondonian non-reductionist materialism. In this regard, the living system is transformed both from the inside and from the outside. All the contents of its internal space are in "topological" contact with the contents of the external space. In conclusion, the author argues that reflecting on the nature of the living system is tantamount to searching for material ontological conditions of individuation in Simondon.

Simondon, Merleau-Ponty, living system, vital individual, individuation, transduction, pre-individual reality, hylomorphism, materialism, continuum