The Politics of Desire: Foucault, Deleuze, and Psychoanalysis

In his preface to Deleuze and Guattaris Anti-Oedipus, Michel Foucault highlights a shift away from Freudian psychoanalysis towards an "experience and technology of desire" in the late 1960s. This book explores the social, political, and philosophical dimensions of Deleuze and Guattaris work, as well as Foucaults critical encounters with psychoanalytic thought. It investigates how their critique of psychoanalysis gives rise to a political reflection that draws on key notions of psychoanalysis, such as the concept of desire. The book covers various topics, including the contrast between Foucaults and Deleuzes political understanding of desire and pleasure, the genealogy of desire, the relationship between psychoanalysis and power, and the role of desire in revolt, resistance, and transformation. It pays homage to Deleuze and Guattaris important figures of contemporary thought by enriching and opening new lines of thought and problematization of the political reflection on Desire.

Format: Hardback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

In his preface to Deleuze and Guattaris Anti-Oedipus, Michel Foucault observes a significant shift occurring in the late 1960s, away from Freudian psychoanalysis and towards what he refers to as an "experience and technology of desire that is no longer Freudian." Foucault, Deleuze, and Guattari were actively engaged with this transition, leading to the emergence of a broader post-Freudian literature. This book brings together contributions from esteemed international scholars, with the objective of delving into the social, political, and philosophical dimensions of Deleuze and Guattaris work, as well as Foucaults critical engagements with psychoanalytic thought. The primary aim of this volume is not to critique psychoanalysis as a discipline per se, but rather to explore how Foucaults and Deleuzes critiques of psychoanalysis give rise to a political reflection that draws upon some of the fundamental notions of psychoanalysis. Among these, the concept of desire holds paramount importance, as it enables us to understand the diverse ways in which Foucault and Deleuze politically engage with psychoanalysis. For Deleuze, desire serves as the catalyst for revolution, while for Foucault, desire forms the cornerstone of modern mechanisms of subjection.

Drawing from both new material, such as Confessions of the Flesh, the fourth volume of Foucaults History of Sexuality, and their major works, the book encompasses a wide range of topics. These include examining the contrast between Foucaults and Deleuzes political interpretations of desire and pleasure, tracing the genealogy of desire as a means to investigate historical processes, and exploring the ethical implications of their engagements with psychoanalysis. By examining these themes, the book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between psychoanalysis, politics, and philosophy, shedding light on the enduring debates and controversies that shaped Foucaults and Deleuzes approaches to the discipline.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538144244