In Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy, the energy for intensity does not come from a single, external source but arises from the immanent forces and flows within systems, bodies, and environments. They describe energy and intensity as part of a productive and dynamic process that is constantly in motion. Here’s a detailed breakdown of where this energy comes from:
1. The Productive Nature of Desire
• In Anti-Oedipus, Deleuze and Guattari argue that desire is not a lack (as in Freudian psychoanalysis) but a productive force. Desire generates flows, connections, and disruptions, fueling the intensities experienced in life.
• The energy for intensity comes from the processes of desiring-production, where connections are made, broken, and remade between what they call desiring-machines (the basic elements of desire’s functioning).
For example:
• A relationship between two people produces emotional intensities through desire as they connect and interact.
• These intensities emerge from the continuous flow of production, not from an external reservoir of energy.
2. Immanence and the Plane of Consistency
• Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy operates on the idea of immanence, where everything (forces, flows, intensities) is interconnected and self-generating.
• The energy for intensity comes from within the system or assemblage itself—it is immanent to the field in which it operates, whether that’s a natural ecosystem, a human body, or a social network.
For instance:
• A storm generates its energy through interactions between atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity. The intensity of the storm emerges from the internal dynamics of these forces.
3. Flows and Breaks
• Energy arises from the flows of forces and the breaks or disruptions that occur within those flows.
• Intensity is produced when flows encounter resistances, thresholds, or disruptions, creating zones of heightened energy.
Example:
• In a river, energy arises from the flow of water encountering rocks or drops in elevation. These interruptions create turbulence and intensity.
4. Potential Energy in Difference
• Deleuze, drawing from Spinoza and thermodynamics, sees difference as a source of energy. Intensity is created by differences that interact dynamically, not by static oppositions.
• These differences are qualitative (e.g., variations in heat, color, speed) and exist within systems before they are stratified or stabilized.
For example:
• The difference between hot and cold air masses in the atmosphere creates the energy for a thunderstorm.
5. Feedback Loops in Assemblages
• Assemblages (complex systems of interconnected elements) generate and sustain their own energy through feedback loops.
• In these loops, energy flows are constantly recycled and reconfigured, allowing for the creation and escalation of intensity.
Example:
• A protest movement gains energy through collective actions, emotional connections, and the momentum of shared goals. These elements feed back into the system, amplifying its intensity.
6. The Body and Sensation
• On the level of the body, energy for intensity arises from the interactions between its internal processes (nervous system, chemical reactions, etc.) and its encounters with external forces (environment, other bodies, stimuli).
• This energy does not originate from a “central source” but emerges through the affective and sensory exchanges the body experiences.
Example:
• The body’s response to music—its rhythms, frequencies, and vibrations—produces emotional and physical intensities through direct sensation.
7. Nature as a Source of Energy
• Deleuze and Guattari often refer to nature as inherently productive. The energy needed for intensity is intrinsic to the natural processes of life itself—ecosystems, biological systems, and cosmic systems are all sites of constant production and transformation.
Example:
• The energy driving volcanic eruptions, tectonic shifts, or ocean currents is a manifestation of natural productive processes that generate intensity.
Summary
The energy needed for intensity in Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy comes from immanent processes of production and connection within systems, whether those systems are natural, social, or conceptual. It is generated through flows, disruptions, and interactions, fueled by difference, desire, and the dynamic forces of becoming. Rather than relying on an external source, the energy for intensity is always present and self-renewing within the fabric of life and thought.
