Gilles Deleuze and the Atheist Machine: The Achievement of Philosophy

**Addresses societal challenges associated with the Anthropocene**- Explains and illustrates the function of "the atheist machine" in Deleuze’s philosophy - Brings Deleuzian philosophy into dialogue with developments in computational modeling and social simulation that complement and support his arguments for a metaphysics of immanence - Shows the relevance of empirical findings in the bio-cultural sciences of religion for Deleuze’s understanding and use of the concept of atheism In __What is Philosophy?__ Deleuze argued that atheism is not a drama but “the philosopher’s serenity and philosophy’s achievement.” One of Shults’ main goals in this book is to illustrate the uses and effects of an “atheist machine” throughout Deleuze’s work, demonstrating its central role in his philosophical achievements in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Shults also brings Deleuze’s philosophy into dialogue with recent advances in computational social simulation, especially multi-agent artificial intelligence modelling. The successful development and deployment of such methodologies lend plausibility to Deleuze’s radical philosophy of immanence, which in turn provides the former with more adequate metaphysical moorings. All of this is framed in the context of empirical findings and theoretical developments in the scientific study of religion, which point toward the potentially creative role of atheist assemblages in addressing societal challenges associated with the Anthropocene.**** Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Abbreviations 1 Atheism as Philosophy’s Achievement Achieving Atheism The Speculative and Practical Purposes of Philosophy Given Philosophy, What Machine Can Produce It? Given an Atheist Machine, What Can it be Used For? Philosophy and Computational Simulation Machines 2 Assembling the Atheist Machine Alliance and Fighters and Bias – Oh My! The Assemblage of (A)theism Deleuzian Social Machines and the Bio-cultural Sciences of Religion Becoming-atheist: Naturalism and Secularism 10,000 Years of Non-linear, Social-machinic History 3 The Reversal of Platonism and the Rise of Simulation The Reversal of Platonism The Rise of Simulation DeLanda on Multiplicities and Mechanism-independence Virtual Phase Space and Actual Simulations The Achievement of Deleuze’s Metaphysics 4 Assemblage Theory and Multi-agent Artificial Intelligence Modelling Theorising Assemblages in Human Geography A Thousand Abstract Machines DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory and the Simulation of Emergence Emergent Social Assemblages in Multi-agent Artificial Intelligence Modelling Simulating Sustainable Social Assemblages 5 Simulating (Non-)Religion The Modelling Religion Project(s) The Causes and Consequences of ‘Religion’ Micro-, Meso-, and Macro-level Mechanisms in Religious Radicalisation Computational Models that Predict (and Prevent) Theism The Achievement of Deleuze’s Meta-epistemology 6 Strategies for Promoting Safe Sects Talking about Safe Sects Experimenting with Safe Sects Prebunking Theism Sustainable Altruism in the Anthropocene 7 A Germ of Tranquil Atheism How Christ was Born(e) How Christianity Will Die Theist Credulity and Conformity Biases in Philosophy of Religion Computer Modelling and Philosophy of Religion The Achievement of Deleuze’s Meta-ethics 8 How Do You Make Yourself an Atheist Body without Organs? To be Done with the Judgement of God A Joy Immanent to Desire Becoming-sorcerer The Brain-subject The Philosopher’s Serenity References Index In What is Philosophy?, Deleuze argued that atheism is not a drama but 'the philosopher's serenity and philosophy's achievement.' LeRon Shults illustrates the uses and effects of an 'atheist machine' throughout Deleuze's work, demonstrating its central role in his philosophical achievements in metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. Shults also brings Deleuze's philosophy into dialogue with recent advances in computational social simulation, specifically multi-agent artificial intelligence modelling. Framing his argument in the context of empirical findings and theoretical developments in the scientific study of religion, he points toward the potentially creative role of atheist assemblages in addressing societal challenges associated with the Anthropocene. F. LeRon Shults is Professor at the Institute for Global Development and Planning at the University of Agder and Research Professor at the NORCE Center for Modeling Social Systems in Kristiansand, Norway.