Capitalism And Schizophrenia

Capitalism and Schizophrenia: An Exploration of Deleuze and Guattari's Magnum Opus

Introduction

Capitalism and Schizophrenia: A Serial of Two Volumes

Capitalism and Schizophrenia is a philosophical and psychoanalytic serial composed of two volumes: Anti-Oedipus (1972) and A Thousand Plateaus (1980). The work was written by the French intellectuals Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995) and Félix Guattari (1930-1992).

Anti-Oedipus: A Critique of Psychoanalysis

Lacanian Influence and the Repression of Desire

In Anti-Oedipus, Deleuze and Guattari draw on the ideas of Jacques Lacan to argue that traditional psychoanalytic conceptions of personality structure are used to suppress and control human desire. They propose that schizophrenia, characterized by an uninhibited expression of desire, offers a potential counteraction to this repression.

A Thousand Plateaus: A Rhizomatic Ontology

Flows, Desiring-Machines, and the Limit of Capitalism

A Thousand Plateaus presents a radical ontological perspective, introducing the concepts of flows, desiring-machines, and the "limit of capitalism." Deleuze and Guattari suggest that capitalism operates by creating artificial boundaries and hierarchies, while true liberation lies in dismantling these structures and embracing the free flow of desire.

Conclusion

Influence and Legacy

Capitalism and Schizophrenia is a seminal work that has had a profound impact on contemporary thought. Its critique of psychoanalysis, its exploration of desire, and its radical ontological framework continue to inspire scholars and activists in various fields. The collaboration of Deleuze and Guattari represents one of the most influential partnerships in intellectual history.