Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari

Overview

• Authors: Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari
• Publisher: Penguin, 2009
• Length: 432 pages
• Subjects: Social Science, Sociology, Social Theory, Business & Economics, Psychology

Introduction

• Preface by Michel Foucault: Described as an "introduction to the nonfascist life"
• Initial Reception: Described as both a masterpiece and "a work of heretical madness" on its initial release in France.

Main Themes

1. Critique of Western Society

   • Western society's herd instinct is exploited by the government, media, and economics.
   • Individuals are often unwilling to detach from the group.

2. Reevaluation of Mental Disorders

   • Individuals with mental disorders might be the purest form of individuals due to their societal isolation.

3. Free Thinking and Controversy

   • The book remains a controversial dialogue on the nature of free thinking.

Key Concepts

• Anti-Psychoanalytic Social Philosophy

• Desiring-Machines: A concept introduced to explain the mechanisms of desire and production.

• Schizoanalysis: An approach to psychoanalysis rejecting traditional Freudian methods.

Common Terms and Phrases

• Desiring-machines, capitalism, schizoanalysis, deterritorialized, flows of desire, body without organs, social production, economic theory.

Authors' Background

• Gilles Deleuze: French philosopher known for challenging philosophical assumptions. Authored 25 books.
• Felix Guattari: French psychiatrist and philosopher, involved in the anti-psychiatry movement.

Contributors

• Michel Foucault: Influential philosophical thinker, contributed the preface.

Notable Editions

• Multiple editions available, with variances in preview availability.

Bibliographic Details

• ISBN: 0143105825, 9780143105824
• Translated by: Mark Seem, Robert Hurley, Helen R. Lane

Additional Information

• The book challenges established viewpoints in psychoanalysis, philosophy, and sociology, remaining significant in discussions of free thought and critique of societal norms.

• Influence: The work is part of a broader dialogue on freedom of thought and expression, particularly within the context of societal and psychological norms.