Disjunctive synthesis is a concept from the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, particularly developed in their work Anti-Oedipus (the first volume of Capitalism and Schizophrenia). It refers to a process of connection through differentiation, emphasizing the productive nature of difference and opposition.
To understand it more fully, let’s break it down:
1. Definition
• Disjunctive: Refers to a disjunction or a separation—an “either/or” situation where elements are distinct or opposed.
• Synthesis: Refers to bringing things together or combining them in a productive process.
Thus, disjunctive synthesis is the process where difference itself becomes a source of connection and creation. Instead of resolving oppositions into a unity or dialectical synthesis (à la Hegel), disjunctive synthesis emphasizes how disjointed elements remain distinct yet interact productively.
2. Role in Deleuze and Guattari’s Philosophy
Disjunctive synthesis is central to their critique of traditional structures of thought, particularly in psychoanalysis and metaphysics. It has several key implications:
A. Productive Nature of Desire
• Traditional psychoanalysis sees desire as lack (desire is what we don’t have).
• Deleuze and Guattari see desire as productive: it creates connections, breaks them, and forms new relationships.
Disjunctive synthesis operates in the realm of desiring-production, where seemingly conflicting or separate desires generate new assemblages or flows.
B. Non-Dialectical Thinking
• Unlike Hegelian dialectics (which resolves contradictions through synthesis), disjunctive synthesis allows opposites to coexist without subsuming one into the other.
• It celebrates multiplicity over unity, allowing multiple realities or possibilities to exist simultaneously.
C. The Logic of “Either… Or… Or…”
• In psychoanalysis, disjunctions like “Am I this or that?” often lead to exclusion: you can only be one or the other.
• In disjunctive synthesis, “either/or” becomes “either/or/or…”, an inclusive disjunction where all possibilities are valid and productive.
3. Examples
A. Schizoanalysis and Identity
• Traditional thought imposes fixed identities or roles (e.g., “I am male or female,” “I am a parent or child”).
• Disjunctive synthesis allows identities to remain fluid and multiple: “I am this and/or that, in different ways.”
B. Art and Creativity
• In art, disjunctive synthesis is evident when disparate elements (colors, forms, ideas) coexist in tension, producing something entirely new and dynamic.
• Example: Surrealist art often juxtaposes contradictory elements (e.g., dream and reality), creating something novel without resolving their differences.
C. Political Systems
• Traditional systems may force binary choices (e.g., capitalism vs. communism).
• Disjunctive synthesis enables thinking beyond binaries, allowing for hybrid systems or new political assemblages.
4. Connection to Deleuze’s Broader Philosophy
• Difference and Repetition: Disjunctive synthesis aligns with Deleuze’s philosophy of difference as creative. Rather than resolving into sameness or unity, differences interact dynamically.
• Assemblages: In their broader framework, disjunctive synthesis contributes to the creation of assemblages, where heterogeneous elements come together without losing their individuality.
5. Summary
Disjunctive synthesis is the process of connection through differentiation. It rejects the need to unify opposites or resolve contradictions, instead celebrating the productive interplay of differences. This concept is central to Deleuze and Guattari’s critiques of psychoanalysis, metaphysics, and traditional political systems, offering a framework for thinking about multiplicity, creativity, and transformation.
