Immanence - A Life

Jefferson S.
Backong
Immanence: A Life
According to Deleuze, transcendental field is a pure stream of a subjective
consciousness, a pre-reflexive impersonal consciousness, a qualitative duration of
consciousness without a self1.Transcendental field is defined as a pure immediate
consciousness without object or self. It is a movement without beginning or an end and the
consciousness relation to the transcendental field is a conceptual one only. Accordingly, were it
not for consciousness, the transcendental field would be defined as a pure plane of immanence
because it eludes all transcendence of the subject and of the object. Consciousness is expressed
in fact only when it is reflected on a subject that refers it to objects, both being outside the field
or plane of immanence and appearing as transcendent2.
Deleuze’s theory of transcendental empiricism is to overcome the illusion of
transcendence, the idea that there is some ground or substance that then becomes or that is
then perceived3. We tend to imagine that there is some “plane of transcendence” that grounds
our perceptions4. We tend to imagine that our perceptions, our actions are virtual copies of an
actual world5.
But to Deleuze, pure immanence is life and nothing else. It is not immanent to life, but
the immanent that is in nothing is itself a life. A life is the immanence of immanence, absolute
immanence. Absolute immanence is in itself. It is not in something else nor does it depend on
an object or belong to a subject6. For Deleuze, there is one flow of life or one plane of being,
and this plane should be perceived as a dynamic and open flow of becoming7. Life or pure
immanence is not given but it is virtual. Everything in life, the between moments and between
time is not given. They are virtual, not actual. Our consciousness, our minds, our perceptions
cannot know the future or predict the effect of our pasts. That is why the transcendental field
1
Deleuze, Immanence: A Life, p. 25
2
Ibid, p. 26
3
Colebrook, Claire, Understanding Deleuze: Style and Immanence, p. 58
4
Ibid, p. 58
5
Ibid, p. 58
6
Deleuze, Immanence: A Life, p. 27
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Jefferson S. Backong
or the plane of pure immanence is considered not an actual world but a virtual whole where a
collection of potentials and possibilities for becoming and development.
Deleuze in his philosophy of life as a pure immanence is trying to tell us that life as we
know it is not the actuality of our whole being. Our life, our whole being is a virtual whole
where endless possibilities and opportunities are only waiting to become. Delueze tells us that
we should not see and perceived the world as it is, rather we should see life as an endless
journey, a never-ending flow of becoming.
To better illustrate this life as a pure immanence, let us talk about the possibilities of our
brain. It is a known fact that we only used ten percent of our brain most of the time. In several
readings and even in several movies, it has been mentioned that if we only learn to use our
brain to its 100 percent capacity, we would be able to do things that are normally considered a
phenomenon or simply magic to us. The brain is one example of a dynamic and open flow of
becoming, a pure immanence, a life. The brain is virtual and its potentials and the possibilities
of it achieving more than what we normally do can be actualized and realized if we allow
ourselves to go beyond what is there, to go beyond what we perceive as the capacity of our
brain. Brain is not there for us only to represent it in the way that we generally perceived it.
Rather, brain is a virtual whole that has endless possibilities and opportunities of becoming, a
manifestation of the power of change.
Another example is the genetic mutation or evolution of our DNA or human cells.
According to Claire Colebrook, genetic mutations are expressions of the power of the life to
change; they are not changes for the sake of some form or being8. Genetic mutation is a form of
becoming and becoming is the power of life.
As an illustration, let us take a look at the movies X-Men. In these movies, there are
normal humans and there are mutants; people who have undergone a genetic mutation, an
evolution. There cells or DNAs have evolved into something better, something greater,
something powerful, thus giving them the capacity of performing things which is beyond the
realm of normal human beings. Their genetic mutation gave them different powers. The power
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Jefferson S. Backong
to control metals, the power to move things with their minds, even regenerative powers or the
ability to heal rapidly. These so-called genetic mutations is a manifestation of becoming, the
power of life. These mutations are the actualization and the realization of the virtual
possibilities and endless opportunities that the cells in our body hold. This change, this genetic
mutation has no goal or end; rather it is a creative change of singularities. Accordingly, change
or becoming does not take place in order to reach an end or goal because life itself is change 9.
These genetic mutations take place because it is the power of life. Life is a constant change, a
never-ending evolution because life contains only virtuals. Life is made up of virtualities and
these virtualities are not something that lacks the aspect of reality but rather, these virtualities
are engaged in a process of actualization, of realization to give it its particular reality 10. Without
becoming and the power of change, we will not be able to achieve a life of reality and actuality.
Everything would be virtuality, no reality. Without becoming, without the power of change, we
would not be progressing in life. If we do not embrace the fact that becoming, the power of
change is the power of life; if we do not allow ourselves to develop or actualize or realize the
endless possibilities that our life, our brains, our bodies, our cells hold; we would not be able to
really start living a life of reality and actuality. That is the Deleuzean thought of pure
immanence as a life.
9
10
Deleuze, Immanence: A Life, p. 31s

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