Towards an (Im)mature Response to the Digital. The Democratic Potentiality of (Im)maturity Revisited with Dewey and Gombrowicz

In this paper, we address the question of the relationship of the youth to the digital by situating our discussion at the crossroads of three pairs of concepts: technology/existence, adults/the youth and continuity/re-newal. After suggesting that there has taken place a change in the regime of their mutual relationships in the transition from the 20th to the 21st century (and from the age of pre-digital to that of digital technol-ogy), we will explore this conceptual constellation – by dissolving its dichotomous character as well – pivoting on the notion of immaturity and establishing a dialogue between two authors who have provided, in our view, the most advanced interpretation of this concept: John Dewey and Witold Gombrowicz. Reading their conceptual devices through each other’s, we will propose the idea of (im)maturity under-stood as the constant, transactional dynamics through which the potentiality for the new acquires a form and forms are galvanized by fresh energies. This is the work of democracy as a form of life and we will distinguish between infantilization (which is regressive and operate in an un-democratic way) and infancy and we will suggest that we need to cultivate an (im)mature response to the digital in order not to cede either to the acritical anthems or the overhasty condemnations of the new digital (existential) regime.