The playful unliving: Creativity and contingency in scientific practice. Issue 3 (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guevara-Aristizábal, Juan Felipe
• Is Part Of: Endeavour. Volume 45:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Photomicrography -- Technological image -- Dense technological environment -- Philosophical toy -- Experimental system; Science -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals; 509.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.endeavour.2021.100782
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-9327

Abstract

Highlights: Philosophical discussions should engage knowledge of scientific practices. History and philosophy can highlight the creative and playful potency of science. Constructive critical approaches uncover productive paradoxes within scientific practices. Abstract: Standing apart from Martin Heidegger's 1929–1930 metaphysical lessons is his description of a photograph taken by Josef Maria Eder, for Sigmund Exner, using the lens of a glow worm's eye. Since the technical details of the production of such a photography are not readily available, I will reconstruct the experimental setting. Paying attention to the technical details opens up a venue for historical and philosophical reflection based on the creative potential of scientific practices. Through a critical approach, a rather generic experimental meshwork could be turned into a natural-artifactual, living-nonliving hybrid setting in which the concepts of dense technological environment, philosophical toy, and experimental system meet and intertwine thanks to the playfulness that goes through them, a quality rooted in scientific practices. Within this hybrid and playful configuration, the unliving emerges as a paradoxical voice for the living.