Naujasis materializmas ir Gilles’io Deleuze’o filosofija
New Materialism and the Philosophy of Gilles Deleuze

Summary/Abstract: The article asks what is new in new materialism and in what ways it is related to the philosophical ideas of Gilbert Simondon, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, and Manuel De Landa. The article argues that new materialism should be traced to the critique of hylomorphism elaborated by Simondon: Simondon denies any defined entity or individual, as well as matter and form, and replaces them with the process of individuation or ontogenesis. The process of individuation is considered to be primary, whereas individuals are interpreted as temporary and provisional points of fixation, which reduce both the previous stages and the future possibilities of development. In other words, Simondon creates a material ontology of becoming, which later becomes the central topic for Deleuze and Guattari. Following the Simondonian critique of hylomorphism, they deny matter and form dualism and replace it with the notion of matter-energy. This flow of matter-energy can be considered as a vitalist principle which is proper to physical, biological, social and psychical systems. Deleuze and Guattari’s vital materialism is revisited by De Landa, who points out that the notion of materialism cannot be sufficiently explained without the concepts of intensity and intensive multiplicity. It is precisely intensive multiplicity which engenders a qualitative change and gives energy to the process of individuation.

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