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Opponent professor Daniel Smith (Purdue University, USA) and Custos Academy professor Sara Heinämaa (Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥). The doctoral dissertation is held in English.

The audience can follow the event online, the link is .

If a member of the audience wants to ask questions at the end of the public examination, it is possible to call the Custos. The phone number of the Custos is +358 40 805 4903.

Publication:

JYU Dissertations number 228, Jyväskylä 2020, ISSN 2489-9003, ISBN 978-951-39-8178-5.

Abstract

This work examines Gilles Deleuze’s concept of intensity and the role of this concept in his philosophy of technology. The work has two main objectives. First, it analyses the role of Deleuze’s theory of intensity in his metaphysical system and in his philosophy of technology. Second, on the basis of this theory, it presents an original analysis of the creative potential of technology. The importance of the concept of intensity in Deleuze’s philosophy has been acknowledged, but so far, his views on intensity have not been analysed in terms of a consistent theory. Furthermore, the implications of Deleuze’s theory of intensity for his and Félix Guattari’s analysis of technology have been entirely overlooked. This thesis shows for the first time the pivotal role of intensity in Deleuze’s philosophy and demonstrates the importance of the concept of intensity for the analysis of technicity.

Part I explicates Deleuze’s theory of intensity. For Deleuze, intensity is the nature of the gradual variation of material, heterogeneous wholes. Within such wholes, intensity characterises variation in processes of individuation and systemic transformation. Moreover, these intensive processes and transformations take place within a sphere of material immediacy. Part II fleshes out the implications of this theory for a philosophy of technics. It proposes a definition of technics as immediate interaction with material variation. Technics always has an established role as a component of a particular social system, but it also bears a constant undercurrent of creative and transformative potential. Finally, the current dominance of information technology and the potential for technical creativity in contemporary society are examined on the basis of the analysis of intensive technics.

The work offers an original and comprehensive analysis of Deleuze’s theory of intensity and demonstrates his contribution to the philosophy of technology. It also clarifies the processual nature of materiality and the nature of systemic transformation. Finally, it offers conceptual tools for fathoming the constraints as well as the creative potential of technics in contemporary culture.

Keywords: metaphysics, philosophy of technology, philosophy of systems, intensity, technics, technicity, machinicity, materiality, individuation, creativity, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari

Further information:

Julius Telivuo, 0503720899, julius.telivuo@gmail.com

Communications Specialist Anitta Kananen, 040 846 1395, anitta.kananen@jyu.fi