In Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy, “virtual” is a key concept that refers to a mode of existence distinct from the actual, but just as real. Deleuze (particularly in his earlier work, such as Difference and Repetition and The Logic of Sense) develops the idea of the virtual to challenge traditional metaphysical dualisms like potential/actual or essence/existence. Guattari adopts and extends this idea in their collaborative works. Here’s a breakdown of what the virtual means in their philosophy:
1. The Virtual vs. the Actual
• The virtual is not potential (in the Aristotelian sense of something that may become actual) but instead a real dimension of existence that is not yet actualized.
• Actualization: The process through which something virtual becomes concrete or expressed in the world. The virtual is the source of creativity, transformation, and novelty in reality.
• Example: A tree is an actualization of the virtual structure of its genetic code, environmental conditions, and the broader ecosystem. The virtual encompasses all the possible forms the tree could take, influenced by these factors.
2. Characteristics of the Virtual
• Real but not Actual: The virtual is not materialized or spatialized but nonetheless exerts real effects on the actual world.
• Pure Difference: The virtual is the realm of differences that do not yet have a form but are the conditions for the creation of form.
• Multiplicity: The virtual consists of multiple, interconnected potentials or tendencies, which actualize in specific ways depending on the conditions of a system.
• Immanence: Unlike Platonic “Ideas” or transcendental forms, the virtual is immanent to the actual; it does not exist in a separate realm but is part of the dynamic process of reality.
3. Virtual in Contrast to Potential
• Potential implies a pre-determined end (e.g., a seed has the potential to grow into a specific type of plant).
• Virtual, in contrast, implies open-ended possibilities that are contingent on the interaction of forces and circumstances.
• Example: In art, the virtual is not just the potential of a blank canvas to hold a particular image but the open-ended set of possibilities that the artist can actualize, influenced by context, skill, and experimentation.
4. The Virtual in Time: The Past and Future
• Past as Virtual: For Deleuze, the past is never fully gone but remains as a virtual presence that can influence and reshape the present.
• Future as Virtual: The virtual also contains the conditions for future creation, not as a fixed trajectory but as a field of possible emergences.
• Example: In memory, the virtual past is not a static recollection but a dynamic force that reshapes the present moment as we reinterpret or re-experience it.
5. Relation to Becoming
• The virtual is central to Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of becoming.
• Becoming is the process of actualization, where virtual possibilities unfold into concrete realities, while also generating new virtualities in the process.
6. The Virtual in Assemblages
• In Deleuze and Guattari’s collaborative works, the virtual plays a role in their concept of assemblages.
• An assemblage is a dynamic, interconnected system of actualized elements (people, tools, ideas) and the virtual possibilities they contain.
• Example: A city is an assemblage of actual buildings, roads, and people, but it also contains a virtual dimension—the unactualized potentials of what the city could become based on social, economic, or creative forces.
7. Applications of the Virtual
• Art and Creativity: The virtual is the realm of aesthetic inspiration, where new forms and expressions emerge.
• Politics: Political movements can tap into the virtual by envisioning and actualizing new ways of living, thinking, and organizing.
• Technology: Virtual systems (like software or digital platforms) manifest the virtual by creating fields of possibility for interaction and creation.
In Summary
The virtual in Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy is a real but non-material dimension of reality, consisting of open-ended potentials and differences that can be actualized into concrete forms. It is immanent to the actual and underpins creativity, change, and becoming. By emphasizing the virtual, Deleuze and Guattari move away from static, transcendent notions of reality and focus on the dynamic processes that drive transformation and novelty.
