New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity [Paperback]

Manuel DeLanda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2006

Manuel DeLanda is a distinguished writer, artist and philosopher. In his new book, he offers a fascinating look at how the contemporary world is characterized by an extraordinary social complexity. Since most social entities, from small communities to large nation-states, would disappear altogether if human minds ceased to exist, Delanda proposes a novel approach to social ontology that asserts the autonomy of social entities from the conceptions we have of them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Manuel DeLanda is a distinguished writer, artist and philosopher. He began his career in experimental film, later becoming a computer artist and programmer. He is now Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Continuum; annotated edition edition (November 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826491693
• ISBN-13: 978-0826491695
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Assemblage Intro, March 26, 2008

By 

Mordikai Crump "Mordikai Crump" (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity (Paperback)

I thought this was a very useful introduction to Assemblage theory. Of course, as with all of De Landa's work, it is unapologetically Deleuzeian, evinced by copious footnotes citing Deleuze and Guattari at length. This is just an introduction, and I think the title is horrible, despite his explicit statements that he wants to open the debate for an ontology of sociology (personally I think the title evokes a New Age contingent). Finally, the book is written in essay form (intro, body, conclusion) and his conclusions really are recapitulations of statements already made in the body of the text, although, his conclusions seem rushed and truncated, as though he just wanted to get the book to print.

20 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dry. So very dry., June 26, 2007

By 

R. Jordan Greenhall "Member Since 1995" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity (Paperback)

I am an enormous fan of DeLanda. I literally keep copies of Virtual Science and 1000 Years in my desk to give to unsuspecting strangers. When I first cracked 1000 Years, it felt like I was finally seeing the clouds lift on a whole array of challenging subjects.

Which is why I was quick to pick-up A New Philosophy of Society. Yikes! I suppose if you live and breathe sociology and academic social theory, and have never touched anything else by DeLanda, this might be a good read. But otherwise . . .

Honestly, I'm not sure what is going on here. Most of it seems like a retread of ground that DeLanda plowed years ago. To be fair (although this fact seems like the most salient) - I never did finish the book. Its possible that the last 20 pages contain the sweet nectar promised by the books cover. If so, let me know, I'll be waiting for the next installment.

4 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emergence of a Style, December 9, 2007

By 

L. J. Tan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity (Paperback)

DeLanda's latest book, whilst re-assembling many components from his previous books, is a masterful articulation of his own style. The book provides a rigorous and highly usable conceptual framework for the analysis of social networks or 'assemblages'.