230139 SE Reading Seminar: Deleuze for Social Sciences (2012S)

Many regard "Capitalism and Schizophrenia" as one of the most important contributions to the post-1968 philosophy. Although the authors, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, relied heavily on ? and spoke to ? psychoanalysis and other social sciences, their legacy in social sciences went more or less unrecognized. It is rather surprising, since "Capitalism and Schizophrenia" can be read as an innovative contribution to social theory. Such neglect may have resulted from the demanding and rather difficult style of writing, as well as from the vastitude of the authors´ focus.

"Capitalism and Schizophrenia" consists of two consecutively written books, albeit quite different in their focus and style: "Anti-?dipus" (orig. 1972), and "A Thousand Plateaus" (orig. 1980). I believe they can be understood as the authors´ attempt to create a toolbox which would enable us to do the so much needed rethinking of our societies and social sciences. In this manner we will be, throughout the semester, reading sections from both "Anti-?dipus" and "A Thousand Plateaus".