Exploring Context in Deleuze’s Philosophy

An introduction to perspectives on monism = pluralism.

Particularly as knowers, let us not be ungrateful toward such resolute reversals of the familiar perspectives and valuations with which the spirit has raged against itself all too long… : to see differently in this way for once, to want to see differently, is no small discipline and preparation of the intellect for its future “objectivity” — the latter understood not as “disinterested contemplation” (which is a non-concept and absurdity), but rather as the capacity to have one’s Pro and Contra in one’s power, and to shift them in and out, so that one knows how to make precisely the difference in perspectives and affective interpretations useful for knowledge. (On the Genealogy of Morals)

Time to Take Stock

In a number of articles I have published here on Medium so far (see list), I have outlined Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy by touching on three areas of concern: reality, experience and life — ontology, epistemology and ethics.

At times, the concepts Deleuze creates can be confusing insofar as they are innovative ventures re-characterizing hard problems in philosophy that have existed in one form or another for centuries: creative in terms of the thought conveyed, and innovative in terms of the language used.

It is easy to get lost in the complexity of Deleuze’s thought and lose sight as to how it might practically help with the question of how to lead a fulfilling life.

Transcendence

Deleuze’s philosophical project is aimed at ridding philosophy of the problem with transcendence, to make way for vitality.

Transcendence, and the corresponding theory of knowledge as representation, deprives life of its vitality. Transcendence and representation place the power of life beyond this universe, beyond the field in which we find our own existence.

Transcendence is authoritarian and conforming.

Those who adhere to it deliver answers that can never be challenged; and by sleight of hand, urge us to cling to abstract and universal truth.

Immanence

Deleuze offers immanence as a vision that empowers life.

Immanence levels all things to one plane. From this immanent plane, life participates in the workings of reality on the same basis as everything else in the universe.

Diversity arises through a process of difference-in-itself and repetition-for-itself, a temporal process of becoming. But all things participate in the same process.

All of life, organic and inorganic, overflows with the force of pure difference.

Creative Thought

Creative thought without an image, encountering the universe from within the universe, is offered as a means for living vibrantly and free.

The importance of creative thought does not lie in a transcendent truth-value system.

Creative thought is only important insofar as it assists in affirming life.

Knowledge that would purport to be testimony to the inferiority of life to some transcendent value is dismantled and discarded.

Creative Ethics

Thought that affirms life necessarily has a practical purpose and operation as its final aim. Creative thought necessarily delves in the ethical and political.

Immanent ethical and political thought is thought that affirms life.

Ethical and political thinking is of primary importance only insofar as it provides a vision of how to take life to the limits of what it can be.

Naturalist Constructivism

The affirmation of difference is both naturalist and constructivist.

The naturalist is concerned only with what is in the universe and affirms all that there is. The constructivist seeks out new ways to understand the universe, new concepts to bring to the forefront all that is remarkable about the universe.

Knowledge or philosophy that blinds us to the remarkable quality of the universe, including our own participation in it, is of no use to anyone except those who would seek to dominate others.

Fulfillment

A Deleuzian approach to the question of leading a fulfilling life has its genesis in immanence.

At all times, whether Deleuze is thinking through his interpretation of another philosopher’s work, or doing his own philosophy, the thought stays with the problem and never grasps at solutions.

The act of thinking is immanently creative at its strike-point, but the thought produced remains creative, continues to evolve and participate in an immanent process of becoming.

Any thoughts on a fulfilling life therefore will be tentative, contingent, evolutionary.

A Transforming Vision

Deleuze could not possibly have intended that his philosophy be interpreted and pinned down in a closed manner. He offers his thought up to the pure process of difference.

An encounter with Deleuze’s philosophy is only meaningful if it overflows in the same difference as it was originally created.

The only possibility for a Deleuzian approach to or interpretation of anything is one that applies Deleuze’s thought as a living, transforming vision; and not a canon of thought that has ossified under conservative and technical inspection.

The next few articles are a bridge, a further contextualization of Deleuzian thought. Before springing into a more creative and spontaneous application of Deleuze, it is necessary to shed further light on how Deleuzian thought relates to some themes from modern philosophy as well as 20th century movements in art, science and politics.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Thanks for reading!

Tomas

Please join my email list here or email me at [email protected].

Excerpt from my forthcoming book, Becoming: A Life of Pure Difference (Gilles Deleuze and the Philosophy of the New) Copyright © 2021 by Tomas Byrne. Learn more here.