The Transcendental Logic of Capitalism: Henry Somers-Hall on Deleuze, Guattari, and Kant
Apr 26, 2025
01:17:11
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Quick takeaways
Capitalism is understood as a transcendental framework that not only organizes economic relations but also shapes our perception of reality.
The axiomatic structure of capitalism restricts social interactions and hinders genuine political change by imposing rigid definitions of relationships.
Deleuze and Guattari's concept of nomadism offers a counter-narrative to capitalism, emphasizing fluidity and the potential for localized forms of resistance.
Deep dives
Capitalism as an Axiomatic System
Capitalism is conceived as an axiomatic system, as proposed by Deleuze and Guattari, suggesting that it functions not just as an economic structure but as a metaphysical framework that shapes how we experience and understand reality. This perspective challenges the conventional view that capital merely serves as a force of production or accumulation, instead positing that capitalism organizes subjects and territories through a set of predetermined relations. Philosophical concepts from Kant and Gödel enrich this understanding, suggesting that the axioms of capitalism establish relationships between undefined terms, akin to the principles in set theory. Thus, the critical examination of capitalism is not about its economic function alone but investigates how it binds people and influences their experiential conditions, necessitating a deeper interrogation of its implications for historical subjects and revolutionary potential.
The Role of Axiomatic Structures
The importance of axiomatics in understanding capitalism lies in its ability to define and categorize social relations, leading to the emergence of a structured organization of society. Unlike nature or human relations that can evolve organically, capitalism necessitates defined terms and relations that restrict the fluidity of social interactions. This rigidity results in a form of governance that prioritizes stability over the inherent dynamics of human experiences, rendering it ill-equipped to facilitate genuine political and social change. A philosophical exploration reveals that the axiomatic forms underpinning capitalism are what limit our understanding of freedom and resistance, suggesting that these systems are less about economic structures and more about imposing an enforced order upon social realities.
Nomadism and the Outside
Deleuze and Guattari introduce the concept of nomadism as a counterpoint to the sedentary structure of capitalism, proposing that there exists an 'outside' – a space of creativity and intensive potential untouched by capitalist logic. This nomadic perspective acknowledges the continuous flux of existence outside the constraints of established norms and structures imposed by capitalism. Unlike the static nature of the axiomatic, the nomadic symbolizes resistance to fixed identities and roles, emphasizing fluidity and change. The critique of capitalism as an immovable force thus aligns itself with recognizing that meaningful resistance emerges from engaging with the diverse forms of existence that capital cannot encapsulate.
Revolution and Resistance
The discourse surrounding revolution in the context of Deleuze and Guattari's work is fundamentally different from traditional Marxist perspectives, focusing not on grand narratives of political change but on localized, minor movements of resistance. These movements arise from collective experiences that exist outside the mainstream narratives shaped by capitalism, where each minoritarian action serves as a way to challenge or disrupt dominant structures. The historical examples cited emphasize that instead of aiming for a single, grand revolutionary act, effective change comes from recognizing and engaging with multiple forms of resistance and ways of being. In this sense, revolutionary potential lies in the ongoing processes of desubjectivation and the formation of new identities that challenge the rigidity of capitalist axiomatics.
The Question of Subjectivity
The exploration of subjectivity in Deleuze and Guattari's work raises crucial questions about how individuals organize under capitalism and how they might transcend it. They advocate for an understanding of subjectivity that allows for the constant reconfiguration of identities rather than static, predetermined roles. This perspective critiques any notion of absolute deterritorialization while advocating for a dynamic and evolving conception of the self and the collective. As individuals navigate within and outside the capitalist framework, the process of becoming becomes essential, where the engagement with diverse, minoritarian experiences can illuminate pathways for more profound societal transformations.
What if capitalism isn’t just an economic system—but a transcendental structure that configures our very experience? In this episode, philosopher Henry Somers-Hall helps us unravel Deleuze and Guattari’s enigmatic claim that capitalism is an axiomatic system. Drawing from Kant, set theory, and the metaphysics of representation, we explore how capital binds and rebinds flows—subjects, territories, even revolt itself. Together we ask: what becomes of revolution when even resistance can be axiomatized?
