Yes, Gilles Deleuze was influenced by Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy. This influence is particularly evident in Deleuze's focus on becoming, the event, and his rejection of static being in favor of dynamic processes. Here are some key aspects of Whitehead’s process philosophy that influenced Deleuze:
1. **Philosophy of Process**:
- Whitehead’s central idea is that reality is composed of processes rather than static entities. This aligns closely with Deleuze’s view that becoming and change are fundamental to existence. Deleuze adopts and adapts Whitehead’s emphasis on the fluid, dynamic nature of reality.
2. **Actual Occasions and Events**:
- Whitehead’s notion of “actual occasions” or “events” as the basic units of reality resonates with Deleuze’s concept of the event. For Whitehead, these actual occasions are the primary building blocks of the universe, each one a process of becoming that integrates various prehensions (or interactions) with the rest of the universe. Deleuze similarly views events as central to understanding reality, emphasizing their role in the continual process of differentiation and becoming.
3. **Prehension and Relations**:
- Whitehead’s idea of prehension involves the way entities relate to and incorporate aspects of other entities into their own becoming. This notion of relationality and interconnectedness is mirrored in Deleuze’s concept of assemblages and his emphasis on the interconnected nature of all things within a plane of immanence.
4. **Creativity and Novelty**:
- Creativity is a key concept in Whitehead’s philosophy, where the process of becoming always introduces new forms and patterns. Deleuze also places a strong emphasis on creativity and the production of the new, particularly through his ideas about difference and repetition, which challenge the dominance of identity and sameness.
5. **Immanence**:
- Both philosophers advocate for a philosophy of immanence. Whitehead’s process philosophy describes a universe where all processes are interconnected and occur within the same plane of existence. Deleuze’s philosophy similarly rejects transcendence and emphasizes immanence, where all events and processes are part of a single, univocal plane of being.
6. **Complexity and Multiplicity**:
- Whitehead’s universe is one of complexity and multiplicity, with each actual occasion contributing to the ongoing creative advance. Deleuze’s ontology is likewise focused on multiplicity and complexity, rejecting simplistic, binary structures in favor of a more nuanced, interconnected view of reality.
In his works, especially in "The Fold: Leibniz and the Baroque," Deleuze explicitly references Whitehead and acknowledges his influence. Deleuze’s appropriation of Whitehead’s ideas allows him to further develop his own metaphysical framework, one that is deeply committed to process, change, and the creative potential inherent in reality.
