Israel Centeno

Each era brings with it concepts that capture the philosophical and political tensions of its time. Words like alienation, subjectivity, and desacralization shaped the debates of past decades. Today, terms like binary and non-binary, rooted in technology and computation, have taken center stage in discussions on identity, thought, and social organization. However, in the attempt to transcend the binary, we often fall back into its logic—not because of conceptual failure, but because the binary is fundamentally an organizing tool inherent to human thought.

The Binary as the Foundation of Individuation

It is impossible to discuss individuation, even in the context of gender, without establishing a binary dilemma to differentiate it. For something to be identifiable as unique, it must first contrast with what it is not. The concept of gender—whether binary, fluid, or non-binary—only makes sense because there are categories that define the boundaries of what it is and what it is not. Without this initial opposition, any definition dissolves into an indeterminate haze.

Structuralist philosophy has long explored this idea. Claude Lévi-Strauss argued that meaning emerges from oppositions: heat is understood in contrast to cold, light in opposition to darkness. Similarly, gender identity—or any identity—is formed in relation to an “other.” Even those who identify as non-binary define themselves in opposition to traditional binary genders, creating a contrast that gives their identity substance.

Thus, the binary does not exclude diversity; rather, it organizes it. Gilles Deleuze, in The Logic of Sense, observes that “Multiplicity does not negate unity; it includes it as one of its dimensions.” In other words, even the most complex categories rely on a core structure that allows us to distinguish one thing from another. In this sense, the binary is not a prison but a starting point for differentiation and understanding.

The Problem of Identity Fragmentation

The contemporary attempt to transcend binary categories, particularly in discussions of identity, introduces significant risks. The fragmentation of traditional categories into a multiplicity of options can weaken the ability of individuals to connect collectively. Extreme individuation, far from empowering, can lead to alienation. As Simone Weil noted, “The need to belong to something greater than oneself is as imperative as the need to breathe.” Collective belonging requires a shared structure, often organized around categories that, while simplifying, are functional.

In the context of gender, for example, the effort to break away from traditional binary categories can create a paradox. The more the identity spectrum is fragmented, the harder it becomes to articulate a common narrative that enables resistance to oppressive powers or the construction of support systems. The illusion of escaping traditional dichotomies can result in greater vulnerability to systems of power that exploit this fragmentation.

Contradictions as the Engine of Change

This leads us to a key conclusion: it is impossible to transcend the binary without first recognizing it and using it as a foundation for change. Even ideologies that aim to dismantle binary categories—such as contemporary approaches to gender or politics—depend on these categories as a starting point. This is where many modern narratives have “demarxified” themselves, removing contradictions from their equations. Without contradictions, there is no dialectic; without dialectic, there is no transformation.

Classical Marxism, for instance, relied on a fundamental binary contradiction: oppressors versus oppressed. This structure did not deny social complexity but provided a clear framework for understanding and articulating conflict. By removing contradictions, some contemporary movements have lost the ability to generate cohesion and collective purpose.

The Binary as a Tool, Not an Obstacle

The key is not to destroy the binary but to integrate it as an organizational tool that allows for analysis, action, and diversity. Modern computation, built on binary systems, has shown that from two basic states—0 and 1—extremely complex structures and responses can emerge. Similarly, binary thinking, when properly applied, can serve as a means of organizing and understanding reality without excluding multiplicity.

In conclusion, individuation, even in the context of gender, depends on the binary as a differentiating framework. Breaking away from the binary does not mean rejecting it but reinterpreting it. As Simone Weil observed, “Intelligence must begin with opposites, not to remain in them but to surpass them.” Recognizing the structuring role of the binary allows us to transcend it without losing the ability to articulate collectively, preserve diversity, and resist the challenges of a fragmented world.