Form, Individuation and Catastrophe: The Parallels of Gilbert Simondon and René Thom

Abstract The Frenchmen Gilbert Simondon and René Thom were at odds with scientific reductionism. Despite traveling in the same intellectual circles and having a commonality of ideas, they had little if any influence on one another’s work. Each proposed an alternative ontological framework to serve as a new basis for inquiry rather than accepting the flaws of reductionism or setting aside scientific and technological practices altogether. Both the theory of individuation (Simondon) and catastrophe theory (Thom) begin, conceptually, from an interpretation of Aristotle’s hylomorphism while diverging in their conception of the individual. It is their recasting the individual, as opposed to an indivisible atom, as the basis for scientific enquiry, whether as mathematical prescription or philosophical reflection, which underlies their vision of scientific practice. In this paper, we highlight the similarities and dissimilarities between Simondon’s and Thom’s philosophical views of individuation. Thom uses philosophy as metaphysical foundation for his own mathematical practice and discoveries, while Simondon uses established scientific and technological knowledge in order to bring forth a metaphysics and ontology of individuation.