Automation and industrial objects: a simondonian reading of Karel Čapek's play Rossum's Universal Robots

Résumé

This text discusses Karel Čapek’s play “Rossum’s Universal Robots” from the perspective of philosopher Gilbert Simondon. It is the first work of fiction to use the term “robot,” contributing to establishing a certain image of the machine in contemporary culture. Simondon’s analysis of the play, according to the reading proposed here, points to a tension between the post-industrial technical mentality, defended by Simondon, and the consumer values strongly associated with the robot manufacturing process described in the play. The future, envisioned by the play, is presented not only as a scenario of extreme automation, but also of prioritization of profit, obsolescence, and disposability in the industrial process. Thus, beyond a reflection on the concept of “robot,” this analysis points to an alternative regarding the way of conceiving industrial objects in general, in order to preserve both the technical essence of such objects and nature, which is considered one of the agents of technical networks and, therefore, cannot be ignored.