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Indeterminate Ontogenesis and Sensemaking

Indeterminate Ontogenesis and Sensemaking | Sha Xin Wei

Séminaire sur le vivant | 10 Sep 2025 | 16:00 – 18:00 CET

Centre Cavaillès | École normale supérieure Paris (ENS)

How does sensemaking take place amidst history-laden, open-ended ontogenesis, in particular biosocial development?

Motivated and guided by Simondon’s account of ontogenesis and individuation, and Deleuze’s logic of sense, I propose an account of sense-making without a priori subjects and objects, in which sense may be co-constituted with subjectivities.

In order to gain some traction, I adapt concepts from analysis on manifolds and geometric measure theory that are anexact enough to serve as lures for further thought, and still be adequate to the indeterminacy and open-ended fertility of experience and ontogenesis.

This builds on work by S. Kauffman, G. Longo, M. Montevil, A. Sarti, N. Damiris, I. Stengers, E. Grosz, C. Malaspina, and Synthesis’ “Ontogenetic Process, Emergence, Individuation” research stream.