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Expressionism in Philosophy: Spinoza

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Though this book dates from the less well-known "academic" phase of Deleuze's career, and thus completely lacks the stylistic exuberance of his later works, you can immediately see how it pre-figures many of the concepts he was to create with Guattari. It is interesting, then, both from the perspective of studying Deleuze, as well as for its clear, almost dry, presentation of Spinoza's philosophy. In fact, the book can serve as a bridge between these philosophers irrespective of which of the two names drew you to the title: a Spinoza for the Deleuzians, and a Deleuze that even a Spinozist could love, the two tied together by a shared conception of pure immanence.

The plan of the book is based around the structure of the Ethics and outlines all the main points of Spinoza's masterpiece, starting with Substance and ending in Beatitude. Special care is taken to situate Spinoza with respect to his historical context, particularly next to the philosophies of Descartes and Leibniz. To this end, Deleuze develops his thesis that it is a shared philosophy of "expression" that, despite their differences, unites Leibniz and Spinoza in founding a post-cartesian philosophy. For readers of A Thousand Plateaus, the idea that Nature is expressive will come as no surprise, but seeing this in light of Spinoza adds a valuable depth to it.

Deleuze's interpretation of Spinoza's Ethics is lively and original; his description of the problem of attributes and modes as numerically distinct from substance but not ontologically so is helpful in understanding Spinoza's metaphysics. His discussion of power, as "pouvoir" and "puissance" and their relationship to active affections, is also fascinating for what it suggests about the possibility of a rational community. A must read for Spinoza students and those interested in the history of philosophy.

This is very strange intersection of popular media (and its evaluative mechanisms) and somewhat esoteric philosophy. I mean, really, who buys Expressionism in Philosophy on the basis of an Amazon review? I guess all I can contribute is that, for those with disposable incomes and a desire to familiarise themselves with Deleuze, Nietzsche in Philosophy is a much better starting point. You can then work chronologically, through Bergson etc. up to Spinoza, or perhaps buy the shorter Practical Philosophy as a reference point to aid in the reading of Expressionism. The Spinoza books are certainly indispensible for reading the D/Guattari collaborative works. This is the first paper back edition, as far as I'm aware.

An excellent monograph by the great metaphysician, Deleuze. This elaborate text attempts to demonstrate the expressivity of Spinoza's theory of immanence. Deleuze argues that the attributes of God express the essence of substance in its necessity and infinity. There is remarkable explication of finite modes in this text-Deleuze indicates that a mode's essence is a determinate degree of intensity, an "irreducible degree of power." I found this description helpful as the transition from infinite substance to finite modes has always been ambiguous for me. There is also some remarkable work on scholastic philosophy in this work-Deleuze incorporates some insightful comparisons with Scotus' theology in the section on numerical and real distinction. Perhaps most importantly, Deleuze is able to synthesize expressivity in Spinoza with Leibniz and to show how these two figures successfully launched an anti-Cartesian movement. Although this text has been criticized for allowing too much conceptual work to take place at the level of attribution, I found it to be a remarkably precise exegesis.

It is not without reason that Deleuze called Spinoza the "prince of the philosophers". The reason can be discerned from the very pages of this book. The importance of this work cannot be underestimated.

Of profound significance is the idea that Being is explicative and does not become less in each of its expression. This affirms the sense of beings and gives voice to the power and beauty of "life".

Spinoza's/ Deleuze's philosophy is against everything that is life-negative, instead, it is life-affirmative and celebrates joy as a powerful and adequate response to the life that we are given.

A reading of Hegel's critique and Nietzsche's Zarathustra would be sufficient as background to this complex but powerful and rewarding text. If I may suggest a further reading: Badiou's "Clamour of Being" adds new dimensions to Deleuze's thinking.

Deleuze, el último filósofo.
Se encarno una vez - igual que Spinoza - para mostarnos que no hay otra preocupacion que el Ser y el Pensamiento.