From: "Friedman, Howard J." <hfn-AT-sdpfr.powersoft.com>
Subject: RE: Delirium Continuum
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 96 11:09:00 PST



Guattari & Deleuze describe the "subject" (in anti-Oedipus) as a 
trace-residue recorded on the surface of the immanent.

Although this formulation has the merit of making an ontological 
distinction, or difference in nature, between the psychological subject and 
things immanent, it still gives too much concreteness to the subject.

Trace-residues are or give rise to sensations. The psychological subject is 
a perception, not a sensation. It is not a trace residue on the surface of 
the Substantial, but an idea-image on the anti-surface of the Virtual.

Trace-residues become "objects" when they are demarcated in time and space. 
They can thus give rise to perceptions, but only through the superposition 
of a space-time dimensionality.

Idea-images become "terms" when they are demarcated with contextual nuances 
and an overall sense or meaning. They can thus be "sensed", but any 
sensation they provide has to do with their contextual medium (eg, the print 
of the printed word or the sound of an enunciated term) and not the 
idea-images themselves.

The relation between different objects produces an impression. Impressions 
attaining a certain consistence become (space-time) crystallizations.

The relation between different terms produces an expression. Expressions 
attaining a certain consistence become (nuanced-meaningful) formulations.

Trace-residues and idea-images (or impressions and expressions) are placed 
in relation to each other by conception.

As G&D wrote (in What is Philosopy?), concepts are invented not discovered. 
There is no other relation between trace-residues (recorded on the 
Substantial) and idea-images (re-coded on the Virtual) than that which we 
invent (the Convivial). A conceptual relation is alive when it makes these 
links and it dies when the links are broken.

Howie

Flame on for three-way metaphysics! The Thousand Plateaus are not Virtual 
nor Substantial; they are Convivial.

G&D are not One. The Uni-verse is dead. Long Live the PolyErg.



     ------------------