Affirming Divergence: Deleuze's Reading of Leibniz (Plateaus - New Directions in Deleuze Studies)

Leibniz is a constant, but often overlooked, presence in Deleuze’s philosophy. This book explains three key moments in Deleuze’s philosophical development through the lens of his engagement with Leibniz. In doing so it hopes to offer a focused framework for understanding some of the most difficult aspects of Deleuze’s philosophy. Part One examines Deleuze’s account of the “anti-Cartesian reaction” of Spinoza and Leibniz which culminates in their two competing theories of expression. It argues that in some key respects Deleuze favours Leibniz’s interpretation of this key concept over Spinoza’s. Part Two looks at Deleuze’s critique of representation and his attempt to create a theory of difference that will underlie, rather than rely upon, conceptual opposition. It examines the crucial role played by the Leibnizian concepts of incompossibility and divergence in Deleuze’s theory of ‘vice-diction’, created in order to offer a sub-representational, or pre-individual, substitute for Hegelian contradiction. Part Three looks in detail at one of Deleuze’s last major works, The Fold. It argues for Leibniz’s central place in this text, and shows how Deleuze uses concepts from across Leibniz’s philosophy and mathematics as a framework to articulate a systematic account of his own mature philosophy. Argues that understanding Deleuze's relationship to Leibniz is essential for a full understanding of Deleuze's philosophy

Throughout Deleuze's work, we find two opposing characterisations of Leibniz. On the one hand, Deleuze presents Leibniz as a conservative theologian committed to justifying the order and harmony of a God-governed world. On the other, Leibniz appears as a revolutionary thinker credited with 'the most insane concept creation we have ever witnessed in philosophy'.

Alex Tissandier traces Leibniz's ambiguous status for Deleuze to explain two key ideas in Deleuze's own philosophy: a concept of difference that is not reducible to a relation of contradiction and an account of the genesis of the world that does not presuppose the structure of representation. Key Features

• The first detailed account of Deleuze's reading of Leibniz
• Questions the orthodox view of Deleuze's attitude towards Spinoza and Leibniz
• Argues for the purely philosophical motivations behind Deleuze's interest in mathematics and art
• The first detailed commentary onThe Fold: Leibniz and the Baroque(original: 1988, English translation: 1993): a neglected Deleuze text Annotation Argues that understanding Deleuze's relationship to Leibniz is essential for a full understanding of Deleuze's philosophy Throughout Deleuze's work, we find two opposing characterisations of Leibniz. On the one hand, Deleuze presents Leibniz as a conservative theologian committed to justifying the order and harmony of a God-governed world. On the other, Leibniz appears as a revolutionary thinker credited with 'the most insane concept creation we have ever witnessed in philosophy'. Alex Tissandier traces Leibniz's ambiguous status for Deleuze to explain two key ideas in Deleuze's own philosophy: a concept of difference that is not reducible to a relation of contradiction and an account of the genesis of the world that does not presuppose the structure of representation Affirming Divergence Copyright Contents Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Part I Expressionism in Philosophy: Spinoza 1 Leibniz, Spinoza and the Anti-Cartesian Reaction 2 Leibniz and Expression Part II Difference and Repetition and Logic of Sense 3 Deleuze’s Critique of Representation 4 A Leibnizian World Part III The Fold 5 Material Folds and the Lower Level of the Baroque House 6 Spiritual Folds and the Upper Level of the Baroque House Conclusion: The New Discord References Index Throughout Deleuze's work, we find two opposing characterisations of Leibniz. On the one hand, Deleuze presents Leibniz as a conservative theologian committed to justifying the order and harmony of a God-governed world. On the other, Leibniz appears as a revolutionary thinker credited with 'the most insane concept creation we have ever witnessed in philosophy'.-- Page 4 de la couverture Alex Tissandier traces Leibniz's ambiguous status for Deleuze to explain two key ideas in Deleuzian philosophy: a concept of difference that is not reducible to a relation of contradiction and an account of the genesis of the world that does not presuppose the structure of representation. Alex Tissandier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.