Extending Intensions: Exploring Deleuze and Guattari's Critique of Formal Logic in the Case of Intensional Logics

In What is Philosophy?, Deleuze and Guattari critique the relationship between formal logic and philosophy. They argue that since philosophy is the creation of concepts that are intensional, and formal logic reduces concepts to their extension, formal logic then has no special providence to decide philosophical questions. This may strike the logic-inclined philosopher as outdated given that there are now formal intensional logics designed to model meaning rather than reference. However, it will be shown that these logics too fail to express the concept in a way that preserves its philosophical import. Doing so requires contrasting Deleuze and Guattari's account of the concept with Frege's to show how the latter persists even in intensional logics in the form of mathematical functions that are ultimately referential. This then results in support for Deleuze and Guattari's claim that formal logic is a useful tool, but that it is incapable of adjudicating philosophical disputes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Deleuze and Guattari Studies
Published
2024-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3366/dlgs.2024.0569
Primary Topic
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Extending Intensions: Exploring Deleuze and Guattari's Critique of Formal Logic in the Case of Intensional Logics

Michael J. Ardoline
Deleuze and Guattari Studies
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
article

Extending Intensions: Exploring Deleuze and Guattari's Critique of Formal Logic in the Case of Intensional Logics

Michael J. Ardoline
article en

Abstract

In What is Philosophy?, Deleuze and Guattari critique the relationship between formal logic and philosophy. They argue that since philosophy is the creation of concepts that are intensional, and formal logic reduces concepts to their extension, formal logic then has no special providence to decide philosophical questions. This may strike the logic-inclined philosopher as outdated given that there are now formal intensional logics designed to model meaning rather than reference. However, it will be shown that these logics too fail to express the concept in a way that preserves its philosophical import. Doing so requires contrasting Deleuze and Guattari's account of the concept with Frege's to show how the latter persists even in intensional logics in the form of mathematical functions that are ultimately referential. This then results in support for Deleuze and Guattari's claim that formal logic is a useful tool, but that it is incapable of adjudicating philosophical disputes.

Deleuze and Guattari StudiesVol. 18(4)
Louisiana State University (US)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
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