John Mullarkey argues that immanence is a key concept for post-continental philosophy because it challenges the traditional metaphysical distinctions that have dominated Western thought, such as the separation between mind and body, subject and object, or the transcendent and the immanent. In his view, immanence offers a way to think about existence, knowledge, and experience that avoids these dualisms, which have often led to problematic philosophical dead ends.
Mullarkey sees immanence as crucial for understanding processes, becoming, and change as integral to reality, rather than as secondary to some higher, transcendent order. This focus on immanence aligns with the work of philosophers like Gilles Deleuze, Henri Bergson, and others who have emphasized the continuous, dynamic nature of reality, where distinctions are seen as emergent and relational rather than absolute.
For post-continental philosophy, immanence allows for a more fluid, process-oriented approach that is better suited to understanding the complexities of the contemporary world. It moves away from fixed essences or transcendental categories and instead emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things within the plane of existence itself. This shift enables new ways of thinking about ethics, politics, and metaphysics that are more attuned to the lived realities of experience.
