Griffin Koss

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Flakne, April

Area of Concentration

Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis is dedicated to explaining the nuanced conception of stupidity which Deleuze develops at various points in his works. While generally underemphasized by Deleuze’s commentators, this thesis argues that stupidity, or transcendental illusion, serves a vital function within Deleuze’s thought. I will do so first by exploring the dogmatic image of thought, or the presuppositions of philosophy, followed by an account of passive temporal synthesis which aims to correct the flaws of this image. These passive syntheses in turn give rise to an account of how internally constituted, and non-individuated differences give rise to representation and identity through the actualization of virtual relations. Finally, the role of stupidity in Deleuze’s ethics will be examined, partially with reference his readings of Spinoza and the Stoics. Ultimately the goal will be to account for the paradoxical status of stupidity as both the lowest and the highest power of thinking.

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