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MonuelDeLondo
There are :rt least two kinds of space relevant to our human identity. As b i o l o g i c a l o r g a n i s m sa n d a s s o c i a l a g e n t sw e l i v e o u r l i v e s r v i t h i n s p a c e s bounded by naturirl and artificial extensit,e bour.rdirries, that is, within zones that extend in space up to a limit marked by a frontier. Whether we are talking about the frontiers of a countrl', i.rcity', a neighbourhood or an ecosystern, inhabiting these extensive spacesis part of rvhat defines our social rrnd biological identities. There are, however, other welldefined spaceswhich we also inhabit but which are less familiar: these arezones of i!119!!y1, not only those zones of temperature that define dif( f e r e n t e c o s y s t e m s f r o m h o t j u n g l e st o c o l d t u n d r a s ) , b u t a l s o t h e z o n e s of high pressureerplored by deep-seadivers, or the zones of lorv gravity explored by astronauts. These other spacesare also bounded but in a different way, the limits of one zone marked by critical points of temperature, pressure, gravity, density, tension, connectir-it1i points defining abrupt transitions in the state of the creatures inhabiting those zones. Although the weather maps that have become common in relevision n e w s h a v e m a d e i n t e n s i v es p a c e sv e r y t a n g i b l e ( z o n e so f h i g h a n d l o w pressure,cold or warm fronts defining sharp temperature transitions) the fact remains that most philosophers have hardly thought about the questions raised.by the distinction between the ertensive and the intensive. t"An exception is the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze,where the distinction between intensive and extensivespacesis one of the tlvo key distincrions grounding his ontology (the other is that between actual and virtual space).The concepts come from thermodynamics lvhere they are defined not as a distinction between spacesbut between magnitudes or quantities ( w h i c h c a n t h e n b e u s e d r o d e f i n e s p a c e s ) . ' ! 7 h i l e x t e n s i v eq u a n t i t i e s e (such as volume, area, length, amount of energy or entropy) are additi_vqr_ intensive quantities are not. For example, if one adds two equal volumes of water one gets twice the amount of water. But if one adds two quan-
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world of 'nuomena".While most philosophers do not believein nuomena Gilles De'1GF, i3-,h. quote above illuitrates, certainly does. In other words, Deleuze's ontology is a realist ontology. But while most realist philosophers espouseone or another form of essentialism,the belief that what gives the contents of this mind-independenr world their identity is for Deleuze the identity of any berng can the possessionof an essence, never be taken for granted and always needsexplanation in terms of the historical process which produced it.'lf we characterise the identity of material beings as defined by ertensities (not only by its spatial boundaries but also by the amounts of matter and energy contained within those boundaries) then the process that produces those beings will be defined by intensities. In this sense, human beings not only inhabit extensive spaces,they themselvesare extensivespaces.Generalising this to include mental phenomena would involve defining psychological intensities (not only grief, joy, love, hate, but also beliefs and desireswhich also come in different intensities)as well as the corresponding extensities.In this essay I will avoid this important issue and stick to our bodily identities which do form extensive spacesin a straightforward sense. Despite the fact that Deleuze takes the distinction between the extensive and the intensive from physics,in the page following the quote above he argues that nineteenth-century thermodynamics cannot provide the foundation he needs for his ontology. Why? Because that branch of physics became obsessedwith the final equilibrium state (defined by its amount of entropy, an extensive quantity) at the expense of the difference-driven intensive processwhich gives rise to that state. Fortunatelg this shortcoming of classicalthermodynamics has now been fixed in the 'far-from-equilibrigqg, latest version of this field, appropriately labelled thetmqdyna-mlcs', and the effect of this repair has been to make this discipline allthe more interesting philosophically. In a nutshell, while equilibrium thermodynamics focusseson what happens once the intensive differences have been cancelled, far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics studiessystmsthat are continuously traversed by a strong flow of energy or matter, a flow which does not allow the differences in intensity to be cancelled,that is, a flow that maintains these differencesand keeps them from cancelling themselvesout. In a sense,the new field studies systems in a zone of higher intensity, and it is only in this zone that differencedriven morphogenesis comes into its own, and that matter becomes an active agent, one which does not need form to come and impose itself from the outside, as is the case with essentialism.In shorf, only in this zone of intensity can we witness the birth of extensity and its identitydefining frontiers.
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becomes harder for philosophers to ignore the ontological questrons raised by it. go To tackle rhis ontological issue,howeveq rve need t<-r beyond physics the status of virtual space. The matheirnd into mathematics to defir-re matical distinction that we need is that between metric and norr-metric 'length' fundamental and is that is, spacesin which the concept of spaces, a space is defined by :l set of spacesin which it is not. Mathernatically 'relirtionsof proximity' between points, in points and a definition of other words, of the relations which define ir given subset of the points as a neighbourhood. If proximity is defined via a minimurn length (for frclm a cetltre form a example, all points less than a given distance a'uvav r-reighbourhood) the space is said to be metric (u'hether flar, as in non-Euclidean versions) . If some Euclidean geometry, or curved, as in tl-re c r i t e r i o n i s u s e d t h e s p a c ei s s a i d t o b e t l o n - m e t r i c ( a s i n p r o i e c t i v e , other . d i f f e r e n t i a lo r t o p o l o g i c a i g e o m e t r i e s )\ V h a t o t h e r c r i t e r i o n o f p r o x i m ity could be used?In clifferentialgeometry, for erample, one takes advantirge of the fact that the calculus operates on equations expresslngrates g o f c h a n g ea n c lt h a t o n e o f i t s o p e r i l t o r s( d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n ) i v e sa s i t s o t l t p u t value for that rate of change. The points that form a itn instantaneous space can then be defined not by rigid lengths from a fixed coordinate system (as in the metric case)but by the instirntaneousrate at which czrc t , L t t u r e h a n g e sa t t h a t p o i n t . S o I n ep a r t s o f t h e s p a c er v i l l n o t b e c h a n g ing at all, other parts changir-rgslowly', and others changing fast. A differential space,in effect, becomesa field of rapidities and slorunesses, and via these infinitesimal relations one ciln specify neighbotirhoods rvithout hirving to use rigid lengths. Nlathematicrartsrefer to such a dif'manifold' or a 'rnultiplicit,v'. ferential sprrceas a ' m u l t i p l i c i t y ' h a s s e v e r a li m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e s . T o D e l e u z et h i s n o t i o n o f First of all, r,vhenGauss :rnd Riernrrnn introc'lucedthe notion in the first half of the nineteenth century, they revolutionised the very waf in r,vhich d w e c a n p o s es p a t i a lp r o b l e m s .( E i n s t e i na n d o t h e r sw o u l d s e v e r a l e c a d e s n e w p r o b l e m - p g s i n gr e s o u r c e st o , i n t u r n , r e v < t l L r t i o n i s e later use these O o u r i d e a s9 f p h y s i c a l s p a c e t i m e . ) n e f e a t u r e o f t h i s r e v o l t t t i o n w a s t o (say, a get rid of the idea that a space of a given rlumber of dirnensior-rs two-dimensional folded sheet) must be inscribed rvithin a space one l d i n r e n s i o nh i g h e r ( a t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n ab o x ) i n o r d e r f o r i t t o b e p r o p e r l y studied. The need for the extra dimension arises frorn the procedure of assigning Cartesian coordinates to every point of the sheet lvia rigid lengths expressingthe distance of each point to one of the three coordiBut if rhe sheet carnbe stLrdiedusing orrly local information (the n2rtes). rapidity or slowness at which curvature is changing ilt a given point) the
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Notes
'indivisible' I. Actuall,vDeleuzedefinesthe intensivenot as but as 'rvhat cannot be divided withor.rtchangingnarure'Ja definition rl'ratacknowledges the fact that critical points do subdividean inrensiveline of values but only by marking the onset of an abrupt changeof state.As he writes: \(hat is the significance theseindivisibledistances of that are ceaselesslv transformed and cirnnot be dir.idedor transformedwirhout their elements chanei n g i n n a t u r e e a c h t i m e J I s : t n o t t l r e i n t e n s i v ec h a r r r c r e o f t h i s t t p . o f r multiplicin"s elementsand the relations berrveen them? Exacrlv like a ipeed or a temperature, which is not composedof other speeds temperatures, or but rather rs envelopedin or envelopsothers, each of which marks a change in nature. The metrical principle of thesemultiplicities is not ro be found rn a homogeneous milieu but resideselsewhere, forces at work within them, rn in phvsicalphenomenainhabiting them . . . (Deleuzeand Guamari 1987: 3l\ 'distance' as if ir were a non-merric properry, _ This quote uses the term though in its usual meaning it certainly denotessomething metric. Deleuze takes this specialintensivemeaning of 'distance'from Bertrand Russell. Elservhere writes: he Unit,v alwavs operatesin an empty dimension supplementaryto that of the svstemconsidered(overcoding). . . [But a] multipliciry never allows irself to be overcoded.neverhas availablea supplementarv dimensionover and above its number of lines, that is, over and above the multiplicitv of numbers attachedto rhoselines. (Deleuzeand Guattari l9tl7: 8-9) This remark is made about the 'plane of consisrency' nor about multiplicities. But the former is nothing but the virtual spaceformed by the multiplicitiis themSCIVCS.
.)
References
and \/irtual Philosopbt'.London: Continuum Delanda, M. (2002), IntensiueScience Press. H' Deleuze,G. (1988), Bergsonism,trans. Tomlinson and B. Habberiam, New York: Zone Books.
vhen Deleuzedefineshis multiplicitieshe always seems be referringto manro ifolds rvhosedi.rensionsare used to represenr degrees freedom loiindepenof dent variabLes) some dynamic, and not to manifolds as mere geometric of objects.Thus, in his first introduction of the term he says: Riemann definedas 'multiplicities' those things that could be determinedby their dimensions their independent or variables. distinguished He betweendiscretemultipliciriesand conrinuousmultiplicities.The former conrainthe principle of rheir own merrics . The latter found a metrical principie in somethingelse,even if only i. phenomenaunfolding in them or h rhe forces a c t i n gi n t h e m . ( D e l e u z e 9 8 8 : 3 9 ) 1 And elsewhere he says, using the word 'Idea' to refer to concrete universals or virtual multiplicitiesas replacements essences: for
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An Idea is an n-dimensional,continuous, defined multiplicin'. Colour - or rather,the Idt'a of colour - is a three-dimension;rl multiplicin'. Br. dimensions, we mean the v:triablesor co-ordinatesupon rvhich a phenomenon depends; by continuitv,we mean the sct of relationsbenveenchangesin thesevariablei . . . by definition,we mean the elemenrs reciprocally' deternrined theserelabv tions, elementswhich c:1nnot changeunlessthe multiplicitv changesits order and its metric. (Deleuze1994: 782\
C h o p t e5 r
5 . S e cD e L l n J r 2 0 0 1 : l 0 - 8 .
6 . That Deleuzeconceives imnranentvirtu.rl sprce in terms of both nrultiplicirics of
. r n d o f a n e d r l i r i t ' n . re n t i t . ri t l r i c h \ v e l v e \ t h e r r r o g e r l r e s i r l r , r t r lrr . m o g e n i s i n g l t r thenr is clear from the following quote: There was a lirst group of nr>tions: the Bodv u'ithout Organs or destratified Planeof Consistency; ihe Nl,rtter of the Plane,tliat rvhich occurs in the body or plane (singular,nonsegmented multiplicitiesconrposecl intensive of conrinuums, emissionsof particle-signs, conjuncrionsof florvs)l and the Abstract Machine, or Abstract Machines,in so far as the,v constructthat body'or draw the plane or 'diagram' ltlhat occurs (linesof flight, or absolutedeterritorial(DeleLrzc isaticrn). and Cuatrirri 1987:72) 'mecltrrnrsn.rs The term of irnr.nanence' does not. to mv knrtu'ledgeroccur ln Deleuze's r'r,ork, bnt he expresses himself in similar rvavs: Many rnoventents, tuith a iragile and delic,tte ntechanivn, inrersecr:that by means of which bodies, statesof affairs, and mixtures, consideredin their depth, succeed fail in the production of ideal surfaceslthe plane of consrsor tencyl; and con\:ersel)', tl-ratbr,means of which the eventsof the surfaceare actu.rlizedin the presenr of bodies (in accordanceu'ith conrplex rules) by imprisoning their singul;rriries rvithin the limirs of r.vorlds,individuals and p e r s o n s( D e l e u z e 9 9 0 : 1 6 7 ,m l ' e m p h a s i s ) . 1
Resonances'space' by ,\s geographerswe are often seenas delegatesand curators of . r h o s er v h o i n h a b i t t h e h u m a n i t i e sa n d s o c i a l s c i e n c e sW e a r e h e m m e d i n three dominant w:lys in which space is rendered: (1) Space as a [..,r'the Neu,tonian conceptualisationwhere it is seenas a category equal to time, thLrsallying geography to history. Spacehere is the solution to the question: the interaction and integration of phenomena is explained in terms of space.In other rvords, spaceis the container for action - Kant's filing svstem for observation - zrn abstract frame of reference independent of rratter; (2) Nlore simply, and more commonly, space is understood as a rL'lttiue, but active, rerm. Here space is a material reality dealing with as rplestions of scaie- spaceas a plane, as a clistance, something that acts rrs rr rveak actant and has effect; (3) I{ore open to possibility but often jLrst constrzriningin hon, it is conceptualised,spaceis turned into someas thing that is relatiue to the transcendent.Spaceis a product of society but rtlso:r factor in the production of the social becoming socially cons t n r c t e d ,i d e a l i s e da n d i d e o l o g i c a l( C r a n g a n d T h r i f t 2 0 0 0 ) . BLrt how' cloes space fare when we set out onto the open seas of l)eleuze'stranscendentalernpiricism - that wilder sort of empiricism that eInerses'in contrast to everythiirg that makes up the world of the subject r t n d t h e o b j e c t ' ( D e l e u z e 0 0 1 : 2 5 ) ? F o r u s , D e l e u z et u r n s s p a c ei n t o a 2 r t t o v i n gc o n c e p t :s o l e t ' s r e l e 2 l s e a n d o u r s e l v e s n t o t h e s t o r m . i it V'e rvanr to capture the movement of space in Deleuze'sthought by sec'ing space in terms of an immanent spatiality. Whilsr this chimes with the diagran-rof the iate thought of Deleuze, and, in particular, that of 'ltnmanence: A Life . . .' (seeAgamben 1.999:224), it hirunts all his rvork. I n d e e d t h i s s e n s eo f D e l e u z i a n s p a c ei s a k i n d o f h a u n t i n g , i r w o r l d o f phantoms, for, as we wanr to show, it speaksof spaceacting as a passage,