Gilles Deleuze was one of the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th century. He was a maverick thinker whose work profoundly affected a wide range of fields, from philosophy and literature to film and art. Deleuze is best known for his explorations of the concepts of difference, multiplicity, and the virtual, and for his collaborations with fellow philosopher Felix Guattari.
Deleuze was born on January 18, 1925, in Paris, France. He was the son of Georges Deleuze, a civil servant, and Odette Deleuze, a secondary school teacher. From an early age, Deleuze was intellectually curious and had a love for literature and philosophy. He was particularly drawn to the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Spinoza, whose ideas would later influence his own work.
After completing his secondary education, Deleuze enrolled in the Ecole Normale Supérieure, one of the most prestigious universities in France, where he studied philosophy. He was a brilliant student and graduated in 1948 with a degree in philosophy. In the years that followed, he taught philosophy in various high schools in France, including in Oran and in Vincennes.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Deleuze gained a reputation as a gifted philosophy professor, and his work began to attract recognition from his peers. One of his most important early works was his 1962 book, Nietzsche and Philosophy, which explored the philosophical underpinnings of Nietzsche’s thought. In this work, Deleuze argued that Nietzsche’s ideas about the will to power, the eternal return, and the overman were not just philosophical concepts, but rather represented a radical re-thinking of the very nature of philosophy itself. This work would be the foundation for his concept of the rhizome, which is central to his philosophy.
In the late 1960s, Deleuze began collaborating with Felix Guattari, with whom he co-authored two books, Anti-Oedipus (1972) and A Thousand Plateaus (1980). These works were groundbreaking in their exploration of the concepts of desire, capitalism, and the role of the state in modern society. They introduced the concept of the “schizoanalysis,” which aimed to liberate individuals from the constraints imposed by the social order and the forces of power.
Deleuze continued to work throughout the 1980s and 1990s, producing a series of influential works on philosophy and art. One of his most important works was his 1983 book, Cinema 1: The Movement-Image, which was followed by a second volume, Cinema 2: The Time-Image, in 1985. These works explored the relationship between cinematic art and philosophy, arguing that the two could be combined to create a new form of thought.
Deleuze’s work was marked by its radicalism and its willingness to challenge conventional ideas about philosophy, art, and society. He rejected orthodoxy and traditionalism, instead embracing a philosophy of difference, multiplicity, and becoming. Deleuze believed that individuals should be free to create their own identities, to forge their own paths in life, and to explore their own desires and passions.
Deleuze was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1990, and he died on November 4, 1995, in Paris. He left behind a vast body of work that continues to inspire and challenge philosophers, writers, and artists around the world.
Deleuze’s work has not only had a profound impact on philosophy, but also on a wide range of other fields. His ideas about the virtual have influenced video game design and other forms of digital media, while his ideas about the rhizome have inspired new models for organizing political and social structures. Deleuze’s work has also had a major impact on contemporary art, with many artists and curators citing his ideas as a major influence.
In conclusion, Gilles Deleuze was a maverick thinker who redefined philosophy in the 20th century. His work challenged conventional ideas about philosophy, art, and society, and his ideas continue to inspire and challenge people around the world. Deleuze’s philosophy of difference, multiplicity, and becoming is a powerful reminder of the importance of individual freedom and creativity in our rapidly changing world.