Philosophical and Sociological «Rhizome» by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari

Abstract

The aim of this research is to demonstrate the tandem interconnectedness of contemporary reality through the dual lenses of social and philosophical dimensions. This relationship is presented as both equally significant and logically coherent within the hierarchical and complex structure of the scientific phenomenon under study.

To achieve the stated aim, this study employs a retrospective analysis of key socio-philosophical issues as presented in “Rhizome” by renowned French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. Their work is framed as a “nomadological project” that offers a new perspective on the world. The authors advocate for a departure from deterministic frameworks and rigid structural rules. In view of Deleuze and Guattari, 20th-century philosophy serves as a powerful tool that actively transforms both thought and existence. The concept of the rhizome, as developed by these thinkers, stands in opposition to the notion of a continuous linear structure.

It has been determined that the principles of classical philosophy are not without their limitations. Socio-philosophical transformations occur in response to both external challenges and internal demands. Deleuze and Guattari, for instance, present the classical model of the tree as a worldview characterized by a transcendent, hierarchical structure that advances only through binary oppositions. Within this framework, the challenge arises: how can multiplicity be created not by accumulating individual units, but by extracting singularities from within the multiple? According to Deleuze and Guattari, such a process is only possible within a rhizomatic system.

The findings highlight the well-defined principles and core characteristics of the rhizome as articulated in the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. Based on these foundations, it can be concluded that the rhizome consists solely of lines that form localized connections between points and positions. Structurally, it resembles a map – marked by distinct boundaries, yet its meaning remains consistent regardless of its orientation or placement.

The obtained results hold not only philosophical and social significance but are also relevant in the context of contemporary debates on understanding and addressing global challenges facing humanity, as well as in substantiating transformative processes within society.