Networks and the philosophy of noise

ISSN： 1475-9551

Source： Culture and Organization, Vol.14, Iss.3, 2008-09, pp. : 279-292

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Abstract

Although in communication the message replaces noise, noise is an integral part of the message itself. The post-war period is one of an intensified attempt to think of communication and noise together, so that the latter does not appear only as the source of disorder but also as the material part of communication. Noise is thus absolutely necessary for communication. On the other hand, in order to make a shared meaning possible, a remarkable part of this noise has to be excluded. Furthermore, communication has to be given a form in order to be distinguished from noise. Yet communication itself cannot be given any single form, for it escapes all formalizations. This movement of sharing and excluding, form-giving and fleeing from organization, is what determines the field of communication. This article investigates the ways in which this movement has found expression in the writings of Serres, Girard, Latour and Callon.