François Laruelle’s concept of the "principle of sufficient philosophy" is a critical idea in his work, particularly in his critique of traditional philosophy and the development of his own "non-philosophy." This principle is a play on the "principle of sufficient reason," a key concept in the history of philosophy, which posits that everything must have a reason or cause.
### Key Points of the Principle of Sufficient Philosophy:
1. **Philosophy's Self-Sufficiency:**
The principle of sufficient philosophy refers to the idea that traditional philosophy views itself as sufficient to explain reality. In other words, philosophy assumes that its methods, categories, and decisions are adequate to fully capture and account for the nature of the real. Philosophy, according to Laruelle, often operates under the assumption that it can, through its own means, provide a complete and self-contained understanding of existence.
2. **Auto-Positioning of Philosophy:**
Laruelle argues that traditional philosophy is characterized by auto-positioning, where philosophy posits itself as both the question and the answer. It assumes that it has the authority to determine the nature of reality and the terms of its inquiry. This self-sufficiency means that philosophy doesn’t question its own foundational assumptions or the limits of its own methods.
3. **Circularity and Closure:**
Because of this principle, philosophy is often circular—it presupposes the validity of its own methods and decisions and then uses those methods to justify its conclusions. Laruelle sees this as a form of closure, where philosophy closes off other ways of thinking and understanding by insisting on its own sufficiency.
4. **Non-Philosophy as a Response:**
Laruelle’s concept of non-philosophy emerges as a response to this principle. Non-philosophy does not accept the sufficiency of philosophy. Instead, it treats philosophical systems as one among many possible ways of thinking, rather than as the ultimate arbiter of truth. Non-philosophy seeks to open up thinking to a more radical immanence that is not constrained by the self-sufficiency of philosophical thought.
5. **Suspending the Principle:**
In non-philosophy, Laruelle aims to "suspend" the principle of sufficient philosophy. This means not taking philosophical systems at face value, but instead seeing them as contingent, partial, and subject to a reality that exceeds their grasp. Non-philosophy treats philosophy as material to be worked with rather than as a closed, self-sufficient system.
In summary, the principle of sufficient philosophy refers to the idea that traditional philosophy considers itself sufficient to explain and understand reality through its own means. Laruelle critiques this self-sufficiency, arguing that it leads to circularity and closure, and proposes non-philosophy as a way to move beyond the limits imposed by this principle.
