THE VITALITY OF MATTER AND THE INSTRUMEN- TALISATION OF LIFE

摘要

An interesting phenomenon is emerging, heralded by developments in the life sciences and applied technologies, coupled with the introduction of engineering principles -specifically in the field of synthetic biology. The further life is being instrumentalised, becoming a product for human manipulation, matter - whether living, semi-living or non-living - is being attributed with vitality and agency. Some refer to this as a 'new materialism', most notably Gilles Deleuze, Manuel De Landa and Jane Bennett. It is what we refer to as 'secular vitalism'. More than anything this phenomenon further blurs the perceptual (and technological) boundaries between what we consider living, semi-living and non-living.