Gilles Deleuze's aversion to Hegelianism and the dialectic stems from his fundamental philosophical orientation, which contrasts sharply with Hegel's ideas. Here are several key points explaining Deleuze's opposition:
1. **Philosophy of Difference vs. Philosophy of Identity**:
- Deleuze's philosophy is centered on the concept of difference rather than identity. He saw Hegelian dialectics as fundamentally tied to a logic of identity, where contradictions are ultimately resolved in a synthesis that subsumes differences. Deleuze, in contrast, sought to affirm differences in their own right, without subordinating them to an overarching unity.
2. **Immanence vs. Transcendence**:
- Deleuze advocates for a philosophy of immanence, where processes and changes are understood as occurring within the same plane of existence. Hegel's dialectic, with its progression towards an absolute, involves a form of transcendence that Deleuze rejects. He believed this movement towards an absolute negated the multiplicity and diversity of reality.
3. **Critique of Negation**:
- In Hegelian dialectics, negation plays a central role in the development of concepts and reality. Deleuze criticized this focus on negation, arguing that it inherently involves a negative relation to what exists. Instead, he proposed a philosophy of affirmation that seeks to create and affirm new possibilities without negating existing ones.
4. **Non-linear and Non-teleological Thinking**:
- Deleuze rejected the linear and teleological nature of Hegelian dialectics, which posits a progression towards a predetermined end (the Absolute). Deleuze's thought is more rhizomatic, embracing a non-linear, non-hierarchical view of connections and developments. This aligns with his broader interest in the creative and open-ended nature of life and thought.
5. **Multiplicity over Totality**:
- Deleuze preferred the concept of multiplicity over Hegel's totalizing dialectic. He believed that reality is composed of a multitude of interrelated yet distinct forces and entities, which cannot be fully captured by a single, unifying system of thought.
6. **Empiricism and Materialism**:
- Deleuze's philosophical influences included Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Bergson, who emphasize immanence, materialism, and a focus on life and becoming. This empirical and materialist orientation stands in contrast to Hegel's idealism and his method of dialectical synthesis.
In summary, Deleuze detested Hegelianism and the dialectic because he saw them as forms of thought that undermine the primacy of difference, impose a restrictive unity on the multiplicity of reality, and emphasize negation and transcendence over affirmation and immanence. Deleuze's philosophy seeks to celebrate diversity, creativity, and the continuous process of becoming, which he believed Hegelian dialectics could not adequately account for.
