What Is Philosophy? (European Perspectives: A Series in Social Thought and Cultural Criticism) - Softcover

[An] important, highly original challenging book....As a result, the success of Deleuze's argument that we are Leibnizan is, in turn, compelling evidence for Foucault's suggestion that our century is Deleuzian. Because the action indeed takes place inside, readers of this journal should not overlook this evidence. * Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism * A pleasure to read, this is a rigorous structural reflection of the philosophical concept and a genuine contribution to philosophy. Highly recommended. * Choice * Multiple beings, deterritorialized Earth, chaotic brains, artistic sensations: with these ideas, Deleuze and Guattari reach out to future "friends" of the concept, tired of worn-out philosophical gestures or conceptual moves, offering them a sense and a taste of what it means to try out new concepts and set things again in motion. -- John Rajchman * ArtForum International * A pivotal work. * Times Literary Supplement *

Called by many France's foremost philosopher, Gilles Deleuze is one of the leading thinkers in the Western World. His acclaimed works and celebrated collaborations with Felix Guattari have established him as a seminal figure in the fields of literary criticism and philosophy. The long-awaited publication of What Is Philosophy? in English marks the culmination of Deleuze's career. Deleuze and Guattari differentiate between philosophy, science, and the arts, seeing as means of confronting chaos, and challenge the common view that philosophy is an extension of logic. The authors also discuss the similarities and distinctions between creative and philosophical writing. Fresh anecdotes from the history of philosophy illuminate the book, along with engaging discussions of composers, painters, writers, and architects. A milestone in Deleuze's collaboration with Guattari, What Is Philosophy? brings a new perspective to Deleuze's studies of cinema, painting, and music, while setting a brilliant capstone upon his work.