Affirming Divergence: Deleuze's Reading of Leibniz

by Alex Tissandier

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474417747
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	06/05/2018
Series:	Plateaus - New Directions in Deleuze Studies
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alex Tissandier completed a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Warwick in 2014 and is now an independent scholar.

Table of Contents

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
Bibliography

What People are Saying About This

Leibniz’s influence on Deleuze has long been recognised,　but rarely analysed, and Tissandier’s much needed book provides an unparalleled　analysis of the development of Deleuze’s relationship to him. Drawing together and　reconstructing readings from across　Deleuze’s career, Tissandier provides a　nuanced, comprehensive account of Deleuze’s increasingly radical reading of Leibniz,　from the early, fragmentary readings of　Expressionism　in Philosophy: Spinoza　and　Difference　and Repetition　to the mature thought of　the　Fold.　Affirming Divergence　is a deep,　rigorous analysis that affirms the centrality of Leibniz for Deleuze’s thought,　providing a major　contribution to our understanding of Deleuze’s relationship　to the history of philosophy, and to our understanding of his philosophy itself.

University of London Dr. Henry Somers-Hall

Leibniz’s influence on Deleuze has long been recognised,　but rarely analysed, and Tissandier’s much needed book provides an unparalleled　analysis of the development of Deleuze’s relationship to him. Drawing together and　reconstructing readings from across　Deleuze’s career, Tissandier provides a　nuanced, comprehensive account of Deleuze’s increasingly radical reading of Leibniz,　from the early, fragmentary readings of　Expressionism　in Philosophy: Spinoza　and　Difference　and Repetition　to the mature thought of　the　Fold.　Affirming Divergence　is a deep,　rigorous analysis that affirms the centrality of Leibniz for Deleuze’s thought,　providing a major　contribution to our understanding of Deleuze’s relationship　to the history of philosophy, and to our understanding of his philosophy itself.

Editorial Reviews

Leibniz’s influence on Deleuze has long been recognised,　but rarely analysed, and Tissandier’s much needed book provides an unparalleled　analysis of the development of Deleuze’s relationship to him. Drawing together and　reconstructing readings from across　Deleuze’s career, Tissandier provides a　nuanced, comprehensive account of Deleuze’s increasingly radical reading of Leibniz,　from the early, fragmentary readings of　Expressionism　in Philosophy: Spinoza　and　Difference　and Repetition　to the mature thought of　the　Fold.　Affirming Divergence　is a deep,　rigorous analysis that affirms the centrality of Leibniz for Deleuze’s thought,　providing a major　contribution to our understanding of Deleuze’s relationship　to the history of philosophy, and to our understanding of his philosophy itself.

University of London Dr. Henry Somers-Hall