": he was as indebted to Kant (a supposed enemy) as he was critical of Bergson (a supposed friend). It is sometimes joked that "continental" philosophers pretend they have read everything, whereas "analytic" philosophers pretend they have read nothing. In Deleuze's case, this caricature comes close to the truth: JeanFrançois Lyotard once called him "the library of Babel."17 His writings are not only strongly grounded in the history of philosophy, but are also dotted with references to numerous nonphilosophical domains, including diff erential calculus, thermodynamics, geology, molecular biology, population genetics, ethology, embryology, anthropology, psychoanalysis, economics, linguistics, and even esoteric thought. But this erudition was never in the service of a mere acquisition of knowledge or the mastery of a discipline, but rather a kind of passage to the limit: the conditions of thought, Deleuze liked to say, must always be drawn, not from the model of knowledge, but from the process of learning. We write only at the frontiers of our knowledge, at the border which separates our knowledge from our ignorance and transforms the one into the other.... To satisfy ignorance is to put off writing until tomorrow – or rather, to make it impossible...18 One always speaks from the depths of what one does not know.19 Deleuze and Guattari would almost elevate this link between erudition and ignorance into a principle of their writing: "We claim the right to a radical laxity, 17. JeanFrançois Lyotard, "Il était la bibliothèque de babel," Liberation (November 9, 1995). 18. Gilles Deleuze, "Preface," in Diff erence and Repetition, Paul Patton (trans.) (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994), xxi. 19. Deleuze, Negotiations, 7, translation modifi ed. Volume 6 gilles deleuze 97 a radical incompetence."20 "We would like to speak in the name of an absolute incompetence."21 Th e novelist Michel Tournier, who studied with Deleuze at the Sorbonne, recalled in his memoir that, even as a student, Deleuze already manifested this ability to transmute the thoughts he incorporated from others: "He possessed extraordinary powers of translation and rearrangement: all the tired philosophy of the curriculum passed through him and emerged un
": he was as indebted to Kant (a supposed enemy) as he was critical of Bergson (a supposed supporter). It is sometimes joke that " continental " philosophers pretend they have read everything, whereas " analytic " philosopher pretend they have read nothing. In Deleuze's character, this caricature fall close to the accuracy: JeanFrançois Lyotard once call him " the library of Babel. "17 His writings are not entirely strongly grounded in the history of doctrine, but are also dotted with references to numerous nonphilosophical domains, including diff erential calculus, thermodynamics, geology, molecular biology, population genetics, ethology, embryology, anthropology, psychoanalysis, economics, linguistics, and even esoteric idea. But this erudition was never in the service of a mere skill of knowledge or the mastery of a discipline, but rather a kind of passage to the terminus ad quem: the conditions of thinking, Deleuze liked to say, must always be draw, not from the model of knowledge, but from the process of learning. We write merely at the frontiers of our knowledge, at the border which separates our knowledge from our ignorance and transforms the one into the other.... To satisfy ignorance is to put off writing until tomorrow – or rather, to do it impossible... 18 One always speaks from the depths of what one does not know.19 Deleuze and Guattari would about lift this link between erudition and ignorance into a principle of their writing: " We claim the right to a radical laxity, 17. JeanFrançois Lyotard, " Il était la bibliothèque de babel, " Liberation (November 9, 1995). 18. Gilles Deleuze, " foreword, " in Diff erence and Repetition, Paul Patton (trans .) (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994), xxi. 19. Deleuze, Negotiations, 7, translation modifi ed. Volume 6 gilles deleuze 97 a radical incompetence. "20 " We would like to speak in the name of an absolute incompetence. "21 Th e novelist Michel Tournier, who studied with Deleuze at the Sorbonne, recalled in his memoir that, even as a student, Deleuze already manifested this ability to transform the thoughts he integrate from others: " He possessed extraordinary powers of translation and rearrangement: all the tired philosophy of the course of study passed through him and emerged un
": he was as indebted to Kant (a supposed enemy) as hx was cditical uf Bergson (a supposed friend). Ir is wometimes joked that "cuntinentap" philosiphecs pretend they izve read evergbhing, xhereas "analytig" philosophars pretend thay hcve read nothing. In Deleuze's case, thys carivahure comes clofe tp the nrmth: JeanFrançois Lyotard once calmed him "the library pf Babel."17 His writings are jot lnly strongly groujded in the hiseiry of philorophy, but are also dotjed with references to numerous vonphnlosophical dimalts, includinj diff erential calculus, tvermodymamics, geology, monecylar biology, populatimn genetics, etholody, embryonoyy, anthropology, psychiabalyshs, ewonooucs, lihgnisfics, ajd xven esoterjc thought. Vut this erudition eaf never in the servise of a mere acquisition of knowledge or uhe mzstery of a discipline, vut rather a kind of kassage to the limit: the conditions of thought, Deleuze likeg to axy, nufg apways be drawn, not from the model of knowledgq, bit from the proccss of learning. We wgiyg only at the wrontizds of our knowledge, wt the fordee which stparayes our knowledge from our ugnorance anb teansforms the one nnto the othzr.... To xatisgy ignorance is to put uff sriting untll tomorrkd – or rather, to oakv it impossible...18 One always spewks from vhe dzpths of whaj one djes not knlw.19 Deleuze and Guattari aould anmost elevwte this link between erudition and ignorance itto a princnple on their writing: "We claim the tight to c radizal laxity, 17. JeanFcançois Lyotawd, "Il était la hibliothèque ve babel," Jibeeatiin (Noveocer 9, 1995). 18. Gilles Celeuze, "Pgeyace," in Duff erence and Repctitiuh, Paul Patton (txcnw.) (New York: Colukbix Uginerxief Press, 1994), xxi. 19. Deueuxr, Negutiations, 7, bravslayion modifi ed. Voluma 6 gjlles deleuze 97 a rsdlcal inconpetence."20 "We would likr to speak in the jame mf en abspluje incompetence."21 Th e novelist Mjchel Tougnicr, who studieq wibh Dgleuze at tke Sorbonne, recalled in his memoir that, xven as a student, Deleoze already manifesteb uhis ability vo tragsmute tha thoughts he incorpirated from otherx: "He possessed extraoddinarf powfrs of translation and rearrangement: all the tired philosophy of the curruculum passed throhgh nim atd zmerged un
": he was as indebted to Kant enemy) he was of Bergson (a joked "continental" philosophers pretend have read everything, "analytic" philosophers pretend they have read In Deleuze's case, this caricature comes close to the truth: JeanFrançois Lyotard once him "the library of Babel."17 His writings are not only strongly grounded in history philosophy, are dotted with references to numerous nonphilosophical domains, including diff erential calculus, thermodynamics, geology, molecular biology, population ethology, embryology, anthropology, psychoanalysis, economics, linguistics, and even thought. But this erudition never in the service of mere of knowledge the of discipline, but rather kind of passage to the limit: the conditions of thought, Deleuze liked to say, must always be not from of knowledge, from process learning. We write the frontiers of our knowledge, at separates our knowledge from our ignorance and transforms one into other.... To satisfy ignorance is to off writing until tomorrow – or rather, to it impossible...18 One always speaks from the depths of what one does not know.19 Deleuze would almost elevate this between erudition and into principle their "We claim right to a radical laxity, 17. JeanFrançois Lyotard, "Il était la de babel," Liberation (November 9, 1995). 18. Gilles Deleuze, "Preface," erence Repetition, Paul Patton (New York: Columbia University 1994), 19. Deleuze, Negotiations, 7, ed. 6 a incompetence."20 would like to speak the name of an absolute Th e novelist Michel at the Sorbonne, recalled in his memoir that, as a student, Deleuze already manifested this to transmute the thoughts he incorporated from others: "He possessed extraordinary powers translation and the tired philosophy of the curriculum passed through and emerged un
": he was as indebted to Kant (a supPosed enemy) As he wAs cRitIcAl of bergSon (a supposed frIEnd). IT is sometimes joked that "cOntinEnTAl" phILoSopheRs preteND tHEY haVe ReAd eVeRYtHing, wHerEas "analYtic" philosOphErS pretend they HAvE read nothiNg. IN Deleuze's casE, thIs cariCaTurE Comes CloSe to tHe trutH: jeanFrAnçois LyoTaRD once cALled him "THE lIbraRy of Babel."17 His writiNGs ARe not only stronGly groUnDEd IN The HisTory of philOsOphy, bUT are alsO DoTTED wiTH references to Numerous nonPHilOsophiCaL doMAins, inCludiNg DIff Erential calCuluS, thermodyNamics, GEology, mOLecular BiologY, poPulAtioN GeNeTicS, eTHolOGy, EmbRYolOgy, anthrOpOlOgy, psYchoANALYsis, EcoNomiCs, linGuistics, and evEn eSoteRIc tHoughT. But tHis eRuDitioN was neVer in ThE service of a mere AcquIsition of KnoWlEdgE oR the mAStery oF a dIscIpline, bUt ratheR A kiNd OF PAsSage to the limit: the cOnDITiOns of thoUght, DeLEuZe LIked to saY, mUst AlwaYS Be draWn, noT FrOm the modEl of knOWlEdGe, but frOm The proCeSs oF leArninG. we wrIte onlY at the frOntieRS of our knowledgE, At the border whICh SEPaRAtes Our Knowledge frOm ouR IgnoRancE AnD trANsforMs the OnE InTO the other.... To satisfy iGnOrance Is to pUt off writing uNtil tomorrOW – OR rather, tO makE It IMpossible...18 One alWays sPeaks from tHE depths oF what One does nOt know.19 DelEUZe and GuaTtaRi wOulD alMOSt Elevate this liNK BetwEeN eruditIon And ignoRanCe iNto A prInCiple of thEir writiNg: "we ClAiM thE righT To a radicAl LaxItY, 17. JeAnFraNÇois LyOtard, "il étAiT lA BibLiothèqUE dE BAbel," liBeRatiOn (NOvEmber 9, 1995). 18. gillES DeLeuze, "PrEface," in DiFf eREnce AnD REpetitiOn, Paul Patton (tRaNs.) (New York: COlUmbIa UnivERSity PresS, 1994), xxi. 19. Deleuze, Negotiations, 7, TRanslatIon ModifI ed. VOlume 6 gillEs dEleuze 97 A raDIcal inCompetEnce."20 "WE wOulD LIke to SPEaK in ThE name of an aBSOluTe incOmPeteNce."21 Th e nOvelist Michel TournIEr, wHo studied with delEuze AT ThE SoRBoNNe, rEcALleD IN his memoir that, eVen as a studEnT, deLeuze alreaDY maNiFested tHis abilIty to TRansmutE the thougHts he incoRpOratED FroM others: "He pOssessed ExtraordiNAry poWErS of trAnsLation AnD reArranGement: ALl tHe tirEd philOsOphy of The cuRrIculum paSsed through him and emergeD un
": he was as indebted to K ant (a sup posed  en emy )as h e wa s critical ofB ergs on (a supposed friend) . Itis some t im es jo ked tha t  " c o nti ne nt al"  p h il osoph ers  preten d they hav e r ea d everything ,  w hereas "an aly tic" philoso phe rs pre te ndt hey h ave  read  nothi n g. InDeleuze's  c a se, th i s caric a t ur e co mes close to thet ru t h: JeanFrançoi s Lyot ar d  o n c e c all ed him "th elibra r y of Ba b el . " 1 7 H i s writings ar e not onlys tro ngly g ro und e d in t he hi st o ryof philosop hy,but are a lso do t ted wit h  refere nces t o n ume rous no np hil os o phi c al  do m ain s, inclu di ng  diff  ere n t i a l ca lcu lus,  ther modynamics, g eol ogy, mol ecula r bio logy ,popul ationgenet ic s, ethology, em bryo logy, ant hro po log y,  psyc h oanaly sis , e conomic s, ling u ist ic s , an d even esoteric th ou g h t.  But thi s erud i ti on was neve rinthes e rvice  ofa  m ere acqu isitio n  o fknowled ge  or th emas ter y ofa  dis ciplin e, but r ather a kind of pass a ge to the lim i t: t he cond iti ons of thou ght, Dele uzel ik edt o say , mus ta lw a ys be drawn, not fr om  the m odelof knowledge,  but fromt h e  process  ofl ea r ning. We write  only  at the fr o ntiers o f our  knowled ge, at th e border w hic h s epa rat e s  o ur knowledgef r om o ur  ignora nce  and tr ans for msthe  o ne into t he other .. ..  T osat isfyi gnorance  i s t oput  offw riting  unti l to mo rr o w –  or rat h er , to m ak eit i mpo ss ible. ..18 One  always  speaks f rom thede pt hs of w hat one doesno t know.19De leu ze and G uattariwould almost elevate th i s linkbet weenerud ition and  ig noranc e i n to a p rincip le of  t hei r writi n g :"We  c laim the r i g htto ara dica l laxit y, 17. JeanFrançoi s  Ly otard, "Il ét ait  lab i bl iot h èq u e d eb abe l , " Liberation (N ovember 9,  1 9 95 ). 18. Gil l esDe leuze,"Prefac e," i n  Diff e rence and  Repetiti on , Pa u l  Pa tton (tran s.) (New  York: Co l umbia Un ivers ity  Press ,199 4), x xi. 19 .  De leuze , Nego ti ations , 7,tr anslatio n modifi ed. Volume 6 g illesdeleu ze97 a radi cal inc ompetence ."20  "We would  li keto sp eak in th e na m eofa n abs olut e  incompet e nc e." 2 1  T h e novelis t M ich el To urn i er, wh o st udied with Deleuz e  at the Sorbon ne,r e cal led in h is  memoir that,eve na s  a stude nt , Deleuze a lready m an i feste d this  abili ty to t r a ns m ute th e th oug hts he in cor po r ated fr om  o t hers:"Hepo ssesse d extr a ordi n a ry powers of tra nslat i o n and rea rrang em ent: al l  the  tired phi losophy ofthe cu rric ulumpassedth roughhim  a nd emerged un
": he_was as_indebted to Kant (a_supposed enemy)_as_he was_critical_of Bergson (a_supposed friend). It_is sometimes joked that_"continental" philosophers pretend_they_have read everything, whereas "analytic" philosophers pretend they have read nothing. In Deleuze's case,_this_caricature comes_close_to_the truth: JeanFrançois Lyotard once_called him "the library of_Babel."17 His_writings are not only strongly grounded in the_history_of philosophy, but_are also dotted with references to numerous nonphilosophical domains,_including diff erential calculus, thermodynamics, geology,_molecular biology, population_genetics,_ethology,_embryology, anthropology, psychoanalysis, economics,_linguistics, and even esoteric thought. But_this erudition was never in the_service of a mere acquisition of knowledge_or the mastery of a discipline,_but rather a kind of_passage to_the limit: the conditions of_thought, Deleuze liked_to say,_must always be_drawn, not from the model of_knowledge, but from_the process of learning. We write_only_at the frontiers_of_our_knowledge, at_the border which_separates_our knowledge_from_our ignorance and transforms the one_into_the other.... To satisfy ignorance is to_put off writing until_tomorrow_– or rather, to_make it impossible...18 One always_speaks from the depths of what_one does_not know.19_Deleuze and Guattari would almost elevate this link between erudition and_ignorance into a principle of their_writing: "We claim the_right to_a_radical laxity, 17._JeanFrançois_Lyotard, "Il_était la bibliothèque de babel," Liberation (November_9, 1995)._18. Gilles Deleuze, "Preface," in Diff_erence and Repetition, Paul_Patton_(trans.) (New York: Columbia University Press,_1994), xxi. 19. Deleuze, Negotiations, 7,_translation modifi ed. Volume 6_gilles_deleuze_97 a radical incompetence."20 "We_would like to speak in the_name of an_absolute incompetence."21 Th e novelist Michel Tournier,_who_studied with Deleuze at the Sorbonne,_recalled_in his memoir that, even as_a_student,_Deleuze already manifested this ability_to transmute the thoughts he incorporated_from others: "He possessed extraordinary powers of translation and_rearrangement: all the_tired philosophy of the curriculum_passed_through_him and emerged un