Yes, we can indeed say that Guattari’s association made Deleuze’s philosophy more “worldly.” While Deleuze had already developed a rich philosophical framework, his collaboration with Guattari brought his ideas into closer contact with concrete social, political, and psychological realities, adding a pragmatic dimension that grounded Deleuze’s concepts in lived experience and worldly issues.
Here are some ways in which Guattari’s influence made Deleuze’s philosophy more worldly:
1. Engagement with Social and Political Realities: Before meeting Guattari, Deleuze’s work was highly conceptual and metaphysical, focusing on questions of difference, repetition, and desire in abstract terms. Guattari’s background as a psychoanalyst and political activist brought Deleuze’s ideas into direct engagement with social and political phenomena. Together, they examined how power operates through institutions, social structures, and individual psyches, resulting in works like Anti-Oedipus and A Thousand Plateaus. These texts apply Deleuze’s abstract ideas to real-world systems of oppression, capitalism, and desire, making his philosophy more relevant to everyday struggles.
2. A Practical Theory of Subjectivity: Guattari’s work with patients and his experience in mental health influenced their concept of “schizoanalysis” as a practical alternative to traditional psychoanalysis. By focusing on the ways desire flows within social and personal realms, Deleuze and Guattari developed a model of subjectivity that was less about internal structures and more about interactions within the world. This shift to viewing subjectivity as a product of social and material relations made Deleuze’s ideas more accessible and applicable to practical settings, from therapy to activism.
3. Concrete Analysis of Capitalism and Desire: Guattari’s interest in politics and economics enriched Deleuze’s philosophy by connecting it to the mechanics of capitalism. Together, they explored how desire is captured and manipulated by capitalist systems, showing how social and economic structures shape our desires, identities, and experiences. This worldly analysis of desire—moving from purely philosophical or psychoanalytic realms into critiques of consumerism, advertising, and institutional power—allowed Deleuze’s ideas to address tangible, systemic issues.
4. Concepts with Practical Application: Concepts like the “rhizome,” “assemblage,” and “deterritorialization,” developed in collaboration with Guattari, have practical applications in understanding social movements, networks, and non-hierarchical structures. These concepts shifted Deleuze’s focus from purely abstract systems to tools for analyzing real-world phenomena, from grassroots organization to media networks. Through Guattari’s influence, Deleuze’s philosophy became more useful for thinking about collective action and alternative forms of social organization.
5. Focus on Experimentation and Multiplicity: Guattari’s approach emphasized experimentation in both personal and political life, influencing Deleuze’s focus on multiplicity, creativity, and non-dogmatic approaches to thought and action. Guattari’s open-minded, experimental attitude encouraged Deleuze to pursue a philosophy that was less about definitive structures and more about fluid, adaptable responses to the complexities of life. This orientation makes their work more relevant to individuals navigating complex social landscapes and changing cultural norms.
In sum, Guattari helped Deleuze bridge the gap between abstract philosophy and the concrete, messy realities of the world. By focusing on how power, desire, and subjectivity interact within social, economic, and institutional frameworks, Guattari made Deleuze’s philosophy more grounded, accessible, and relevant to real-life struggles. This partnership brought Deleuze’s ideas out of purely philosophical discourse and into a more “worldly” arena, where they could address the challenges and possibilities of contemporary life.
