Assemblage Theory

by Manuel DeLanda

Overview

Examines the concept of an assemblage of heterogeneous components

Gilles Deleuze considered his concept of "assemblage" to be one of his most important contributions to philosophy. Yet he never developed it consistently and systematically, whether in his own books or those co-authored with Félix Guattari.

In this book Manuel DeLanda provides the first detailed overview of the assemblage theory found in germ in Deleuze and Guattari's writings. Through a series of case studies, DeLanda shows how the concept can be applied to economic, linguistic, and military history as well as to metaphysics, science, and mathematics.

DeLanda then presents the real power of assemblage theory by advancing it beyond its original formulation. This allows for the integration of communities, institutional organizations, cities, and urban regions, while challenging Marxist orthodoxy with a Leftist politics of assemblages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474413633
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	05/28/2016
Series:	Speculative Realism
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Manuel DeLanda is an internationally recognised philosopher. He is Professor of Contemporary Philosophy and Science at the European Graduate School and is Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Princeton University.

DeLanda is the author of many well-known works including Philosophy and Simulation (Continuum, 2011), Deleuze: History and Science (Atropos Press, 2010), A New Philosophy of Society (Continuum, 2006), Intensive Science and Virtual Philosophy (Continuum, 2002), A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History (Zone Books, 1997) and War in the Age of Intelligent Machines (Zone Books, 1991).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Series Editor's Preface by Graham Harman
Introduction
1. Assemblages and Human History
2. Assemblages and Linguistic Evolution
3. Assemblages and the Weapons of War
4. Assemblages and Scientific Practice
5. Assemblages and Virtual Diagrams
6. Assemblages and Realist Ontology
7. Assemblages as Solutions to Problems
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Assemblage Theory, the culmination of 25 years’ work, presents for the first time in one text a unified realist ontology spanning sub-atomic physics, chemistry, biology and social history. Simultaneously DeLanda has reoriented European philosophy, and given a remarkably lucid interpretation of Deleuze and Guattari. An extraordinary achievement.

Levi R. Bryant

Manuel DeLanda accomplishes what few thinkers ever manage to achieve: he renders the world interesting and thoroughly transforms our perception of what it is and how it came to be. This new book is destined to generate much debate and discussion, reconfiguring the way we pose social and political questions and the coordinates of legitimate ontological thinking. After reading this work, the world never quite looks the same and things that seemed to have only marginal importance take on an entirely new significance.

Alistair Welchman

Assemblage Theory, the culmination of 25 years’ work, presents for the first time in one text a unified realist ontology spanning sub-atomic physics, chemistry, biology and social history. Simultaneously DeLanda has reoriented European philosophy, and given a remarkably lucid interpretation of Deleuze and Guattari. An extraordinary achievement.

Editorial Reviews

Manuel DeLanda accomplishes what few thinkers ever manage to achieve: he renders the world interesting and thoroughly transforms our perception of what it is and how it came to be. This new book is destined to generate much debate and discussion, reconfiguring the way we pose social and political questions and the coordinates of legitimate ontological thinking. After reading this work, the world never quite looks the same and things that seemed to have only marginal importance take on an entirely new significance.

Levi R. Bryant

For archaeologists intensively engaged in more philosophical inquiries, for example historical contingency, structuration or the generation of novel entities, the discussion here may indeed be essential reading.

Archaeological Review from Cambridge - David K. Kay and Kevin Kay

Assemblage Theory, the culmination of 25 years’ work, presents for the first time in one text a unified realist ontology spanning sub-atomic physics, chemistry, biology and social history. Simultaneously DeLanda has reoriented European philosophy, and given a remarkably lucid interpretation of Deleuze and Guattari. An extraordinary achievement.

Alistair Welchman