Concept and History: The (Trans)disciplinarity of Deleuze and Guattari’s Political Philosophy
Keywords:
Deleuze, Guattari, machine, structure, history, becoming, event, philosophy, discipline, transdisciplinarity
Abstract
While Deleuze and Guattari’s workhas been criticized from a number of angles, one of the most pernicious readings is Alain Badiou’s claim that since Deleuze and Guattari assign an irreducible disciplinary modality to philosophy but not to politics in their What is Philosophy? (1991), we should consider their philosophical ontology as both pre-established and ultimately indifferent to concrete political considerations. By examining the disciplinarity of philosophy in Deleuze and Guattari, in its dynamic relation to extra-philosophical domains, this article shows that far from constituting an obstacle to the development of political critique, an irreducible conception of philosophy as a discipline, rather, conditions such critique. The article explores this point with regard to the difference between history and becoming in Deleuze and Guattari’s work, and in terms of the shift that takes place in their work from a structuralist to a machinic philosophical ontology.
References
Alliez, Éric (2004a). The Signature of the World: What is Deleuze and Guattari’s Philosophy? Trans. Eliot Ross Albert and Alberto Toscano. London: Continuum.
Alliez, Éric (2004b). “The BwO Condition or, the Politics of Sensation.” In Discernements: Deleuzian Aesthetics/esthetiques deleuziennes, eds. Joost de Bloois, Sjef Houppermans, and Frans-Willem Korsten, 93–112. Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi.
Alliez, Éric (2006). “Deleuze avec Masoch.” Multitudes 25: 53–68. https://www.cairn.info/revue-multitudes-2006-2-page-53.htm
Alliez, Éric (2011). “Rhizome (With no return).” Radical Philosophy 167 (May/June): 36–42. https://www.radicalphilosophy.com/article/rhizome-with-no-return
Alliez, Éric, Claire Colebrook, Peter Hallward, Nicholas Thoburn, and Jeremy Gilbert (2009). “Deleuzian Politics? A Roundtable Discussion.” New Formations 68.1: 143–87.
Badiou, Alain (2000). Deleuze: The Clamor of Being [1997]. Trans. Louise Burchill. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Badiou, Alain (2006). Metapolitics [1998]. Trans. Jason Barker. London: Verso.
Badiou, Alain (2009). “Existe-t-il quelque chose comme une politique deleuzienne?” Cités 4.40: 15–20. https://www.cairn.info/revue-cites-2009-4-page-15.htm
Bianco, Giuseppe (forthcoming). “Philosophy and History of Philosophy. Deleuze as a Trainee Guard of Philosophy’s Epistemological Borders.” In Deleuze, Guattari, and the Problem of Transdisciplinarity, ed. Guillaume Collett. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Bogue, Ronald (2003). Deleuze on Music, Painting and the Arts. New York: Routledge.
DeLanda, Manuel (2002). Intensive Science and Virtual Philosophy. London: Continuum.
DeLanda, Manuel (2006). A New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995a). “On Philosophy.” In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 135–55. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995b). “Control and Becoming” [1990]. In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 169–76. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995c). “Postscript on Control Societies” [1990]. In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 177–82. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (2004a). “The Method of Dramatization” [1967]. In Desert Islands and Other Texts, 1953–1974, ed. David Lapoujade, trans. Mike Taormina, 94–116. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2004b). “How Do We Recognize Structuralism?” [1967]. In Desert Islands and Other Texts, 1953–1974, ed. David Lapoujade, trans. Mike Taormina, 170–92. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2004c). Difference and Repetition [1968]. Trans. Paul Patton. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2004d). The Logic of Sense [1969]. Trans. Mark Lester and Charles Stivale. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2006a). Nietzsche and Philosophy [1962]. Trans. Hugh Tomlinson. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2006b). “Eight Years Later: 1980 Interview.” In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 175–80. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2006c). The Fold: Leibniz and the Baroque [1988]. Trans. Tom Conley. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2007). “Preface to the American Edition of Difference and Repetition” [1994]. In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 300–03. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (1994). What is Philosophy? [1991]. Trans. Graham Birchill and Hugh Tomlinson. London: Verso.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2004a). Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Vol. I [1972]. Trans. Robert Hurley, Mark Seem and Helen R. Lane. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2004b). A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Vol. II [1980]. Trans. Brian Massumi. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2007). “May ’68 Didn’t Happen” [1984]. In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 233–36. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Foucault, Michel (1977). “What is an Author?” In Language, Counter-Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews, ed. and trans. Donald F. Bouchard, 113–38. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Guattari, Félix (1984). “Machine and Structure.” In Molecular Revolution: Psychiatry and Politics, trans. Rosemary Sheed, 111–19. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Guattari, Félix (1995). Chaosmosis. An Ethico-aesthetic Paradigm [1992]. Trans. Paul Bains and Julian Pefanis. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Guattari, Félix (2009). Les Années d’Hiver. 1980–1985. Paris: Les Prairies Ordinaires.
Hallward, Peter (2006). Out of this World: Deleuze and the Philosophy of Creation. London: Verso.
Hardt, Michael, and Antonio Negri (2001). Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Jain, Dhruv, ed. (2009). Deleuze and Marx. Deleuze Studies 3 Supplement. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Lundy, Craig (2012). History and Becoming: Deleuze’s Philosophy of Creativity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Maniglier, Patrice (forthcoming). “Problem-Sharing.” Theory, Culture, and Society. London: SAGE.
Mengue, Philippe (2003). Deleuze et la question de la démocratie. Paris: Editions L’Harmattan.
Montebello, Pierre (2008). Deleuze. La passion de la pensée. Paris: Vrin.
Sauvagnargues, Anne (2010). Deleuze: L’empirisme transcendantal. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Zourabichvili, François (1994). Deleuze: Une philosophie de l’événement. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Zourabichvili, François (1998). “Deleuze et le possible (de l’involontarisme en politique).” In Gilles Deleuze. Une vie philosophique, ed. Éric Alliez, 335–53. Paris: Synthélabo.
Alliez, Éric (2004b). “The BwO Condition or, the Politics of Sensation.” In Discernements: Deleuzian Aesthetics/esthetiques deleuziennes, eds. Joost de Bloois, Sjef Houppermans, and Frans-Willem Korsten, 93–112. Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi.
Alliez, Éric (2006). “Deleuze avec Masoch.” Multitudes 25: 53–68. https://www.cairn.info/revue-multitudes-2006-2-page-53.htm
Alliez, Éric (2011). “Rhizome (With no return).” Radical Philosophy 167 (May/June): 36–42. https://www.radicalphilosophy.com/article/rhizome-with-no-return
Alliez, Éric, Claire Colebrook, Peter Hallward, Nicholas Thoburn, and Jeremy Gilbert (2009). “Deleuzian Politics? A Roundtable Discussion.” New Formations 68.1: 143–87.
Badiou, Alain (2000). Deleuze: The Clamor of Being [1997]. Trans. Louise Burchill. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Badiou, Alain (2006). Metapolitics [1998]. Trans. Jason Barker. London: Verso.
Badiou, Alain (2009). “Existe-t-il quelque chose comme une politique deleuzienne?” Cités 4.40: 15–20. https://www.cairn.info/revue-cites-2009-4-page-15.htm
Bianco, Giuseppe (forthcoming). “Philosophy and History of Philosophy. Deleuze as a Trainee Guard of Philosophy’s Epistemological Borders.” In Deleuze, Guattari, and the Problem of Transdisciplinarity, ed. Guillaume Collett. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Bogue, Ronald (2003). Deleuze on Music, Painting and the Arts. New York: Routledge.
DeLanda, Manuel (2002). Intensive Science and Virtual Philosophy. London: Continuum.
DeLanda, Manuel (2006). A New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995a). “On Philosophy.” In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 135–55. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995b). “Control and Becoming” [1990]. In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 169–76. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (1995c). “Postscript on Control Societies” [1990]. In Negotiations, 1972–1990, trans. Martin Joughin, 177–82. New York: Columbia University Press.
Deleuze, Gilles (2004a). “The Method of Dramatization” [1967]. In Desert Islands and Other Texts, 1953–1974, ed. David Lapoujade, trans. Mike Taormina, 94–116. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2004b). “How Do We Recognize Structuralism?” [1967]. In Desert Islands and Other Texts, 1953–1974, ed. David Lapoujade, trans. Mike Taormina, 170–92. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2004c). Difference and Repetition [1968]. Trans. Paul Patton. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2004d). The Logic of Sense [1969]. Trans. Mark Lester and Charles Stivale. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2006a). Nietzsche and Philosophy [1962]. Trans. Hugh Tomlinson. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2006b). “Eight Years Later: 1980 Interview.” In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 175–80. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles (2006c). The Fold: Leibniz and the Baroque [1988]. Trans. Tom Conley. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles (2007). “Preface to the American Edition of Difference and Repetition” [1994]. In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 300–03. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (1994). What is Philosophy? [1991]. Trans. Graham Birchill and Hugh Tomlinson. London: Verso.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2004a). Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Vol. I [1972]. Trans. Robert Hurley, Mark Seem and Helen R. Lane. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2004b). A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Vol. II [1980]. Trans. Brian Massumi. London: Continuum.
Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari (2007). “May ’68 Didn’t Happen” [1984]. In Two Regimes of Madness: Texts and Interviews, 1975–1995, trans. Ames Hodges and Mike Taormina, 233–36. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e).
Foucault, Michel (1977). “What is an Author?” In Language, Counter-Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews, ed. and trans. Donald F. Bouchard, 113–38. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Guattari, Félix (1984). “Machine and Structure.” In Molecular Revolution: Psychiatry and Politics, trans. Rosemary Sheed, 111–19. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Guattari, Félix (1995). Chaosmosis. An Ethico-aesthetic Paradigm [1992]. Trans. Paul Bains and Julian Pefanis. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Guattari, Félix (2009). Les Années d’Hiver. 1980–1985. Paris: Les Prairies Ordinaires.
Hallward, Peter (2006). Out of this World: Deleuze and the Philosophy of Creation. London: Verso.
Hardt, Michael, and Antonio Negri (2001). Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Jain, Dhruv, ed. (2009). Deleuze and Marx. Deleuze Studies 3 Supplement. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Lundy, Craig (2012). History and Becoming: Deleuze’s Philosophy of Creativity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Maniglier, Patrice (forthcoming). “Problem-Sharing.” Theory, Culture, and Society. London: SAGE.
Mengue, Philippe (2003). Deleuze et la question de la démocratie. Paris: Editions L’Harmattan.
Montebello, Pierre (2008). Deleuze. La passion de la pensée. Paris: Vrin.
Sauvagnargues, Anne (2010). Deleuze: L’empirisme transcendantal. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Zourabichvili, François (1994). Deleuze: Une philosophie de l’événement. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Zourabichvili, François (1998). “Deleuze et le possible (de l’involontarisme en politique).” In Gilles Deleuze. Une vie philosophique, ed. Éric Alliez, 335–53. Paris: Synthélabo.
Published
2019-07-13
How to Cite
Collett, G. (2019). Concept and History: The (Trans)disciplinarity of Deleuze and Guattari’s Political Philosophy. Stasis, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.33280/2310-3817-2019-7-1-66-91
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2019 European University at Saint-Petersburg
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
