From: lambdac-AT-globalserve.net
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 16:58:23 -0500
Subject: 9. Rhizospheric involution and creative evolution


9. Rhizospheric involution and creative evolution
Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 14:26:01 -0500
From:  lambdac-AT-globalserve.net
Reply-To:  nietzsche-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 14:26:11 -0500
From: lambdac-AT-globalserve.net
Reply-To: deleuze-guattari-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
-----------------------------------------------

(c) 1998 Correa&Correa

A NIETZSCHEAN CRITIQUE OF EVOLUTIONISM, OLD AND NEW
(Doing harm to evolutionism)

9.  Rhizospheric involution and creative evolution

	In First Principles, Spencer defined dissolution as the opposite of
evolution: "dissolution is the absorption of motion and concomitant
disintegration of matter" (#119).  This was already the basis for the
description of Carnot's thermodynamic principle as one of involution,
since entropy is the Greek etymological root of involution.  In
evolutionism, we would have to construe evolution as an increase in
order (complexification of the heterogeneous) and involution as increase
in disorder (homogenization), the former supposing a progression towards
more differentiated structures and the latter a regression, by an
equalization of energy.

	But in the preceding we have presented evidence for two distinct
aspects of the process of nature over Time, processes that a
functionalist biology must distinguish from the problematics of
evolution and regression such as they are posed by evolutionist and
neo-evolutionist theory:

	- a creative evolution ruled by a plastic force that employs
preadaptive and postadaptive strategies to differentiate its powers of
affectation; in Bergson's language, this involves the differentiation of
actuals from the potentiality of the relation, and forcefully
replication enters into play as part of a biological memory;

	- a plane of connection, a web-type collectivity that laterally or
transversally links macromolecules as well as cells across species and
domains; here there is no longer any evolution by descent and
replication: there is instead a Time-machine, a synchronization of
fluxes.

One can speak of regression, by reference to evolution by descent, and
see one as the negative of the other.  But one cannot encase the plane
of connection, the molecular and bioenergetic plane in the problem of
filiative evolution or filiative regression.  The plane of connection,
the differential element of force which is internal to Life, is a plane
of involution - not one of regression or evolution - in the Deleuzian
sense of the term:

	"There is a block of becoming that takes hold of the cat and baboon,
the alliance between which is effected by a C virus.  There is a block
of becoming between ground roots and certain microorganisms, the
alliance between which is effected by the materials synthesized in the
leaves (rhizosphere).  If there is originality in neo-evolutionism, it
is attributable in part to phenomena of this kind in which evolution
does not go from something less differentiated to something more
differentiated, in which it ceases to be a hereditary filiative
evolution, becoming communicative or contagious.  Accordingly, the term
we would prefer for this form of evolution between heterogeneous terms
is 'involution', on the condition that involution is in no way confused
with regression.  Becoming is involutionary, involution is creative" ("A
thousand Plateaus", p. 238).


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