Abstract

In this article we endeavor to show how the character Harlequin of Michel Serres embodies in his philosophy the conditions for the appearance of the new. In order to show it, we will first introduce Serres as the creator of characters and a philosopher of narrative. Then we will focus on Harlequin as the personification of a “third instruction”, the result of the mixing between humanities and the exact sciences. Last but not least, we will establish the relations between mixing and invention as a condition for the creating of the new.