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55 definitions

Gilbert SimondonTechnical MentalityDictionaryish

The book's index

Technical Mentality

49 concepts · 55 definitions

A–Z · 49 concepts · 55 definitions
Definition.com

Obsolescence (n.) never ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠catches the postindustrial object: its lasting half clings to its owner, while its throwaway half is refreshed through the networks forever.

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Obsolescence (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠aging by fashion, not by wear: the freight wagon outlasts the passenger car, and the most ornamented coach dates first.

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Obsolescence (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠born in the gap where the buyer stands: a car is not alive when built, only once someone chooses it — so it is designed to be chosen.

Definition.com

A Network (n.) does ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not conquer nature; it hooks onto nature's own high points — relay masts stand on the hilltops where ancient shrines once stood.

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A Network (n.) holds ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its entire force in each of its points, which is how it makes the single and the collective the same thing.

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Industry (n.) cuts ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠us off from nature by taking over our dealings with it — standing in for wind and rain while keeping their vast scale and their no-way-back.

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Industry (n.) begins ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the moment humans supply only the information and ask nature to supply the energy.

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The Craftsman (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠both the engine and the brain of his work: the muscle that drives it and the know-how that steers it live in one body.

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The Craftsman (n.) works ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠within arm's reach of the use: the shoemaker has measured the foot, the saddler knows the horse, and whoever makes also mends.

Definition.com

The Machine (n.) differs ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠from the tool by having two doors — one where energy comes in, another where information comes in.

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The Machine (n.) in ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its simple form is a model of honest thought: the work that pushes equals the work that resists, and nothing goes missing in between.

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Agriculture (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more industry than craft: once the seed is in, the farmer's labour comes to nothing unless the rain agrees to finish it.

Definition.com

The Car (n.) ages ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠faster than the plane, though the plane changes far more — because a car is a garment its driver wears to be seen in.

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The Commodity (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠like a Roman newborn: brought into the world by its maker, but admitted to life only once someone lifts it up — and pays.

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Condemnation (n.) works ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by treating a person as one solid lump instead of layers — and that same habit is how racism and xenophobia are made.

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Electricity (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠energy and message at once: the same current from the grid can drive a clock and keep it on time.