Soffeh

Soffeh

A Review of the Philosophical Thoughts of Deleuze and Guattari on the Phenomenon of the City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD student of Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Dept. ofUrban Planning,Faculty of Art and Architecture,Tarbiat Modares University
3 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objectives and Background This research, inspired by the philosophical ideas of Deleuze and Guattari, examines the assemblage theory presented by Manuel DeLanda. The primary goal of this study is to uncover the overlooked aspects of assemblage theory that have received less attention in the analysis of the concept of the city. This research adopts a dual perspective: on one hand, it aims to provide a unified and structured framework for the semantic and functional dissection of multiple terms in Deleuze and Guattari's philosophy, with a focus on the urban phenomenon; and on the other hand, it seeks to re-examine and critically analyze assemblage theory. This approach aims to identify existing gaps in the philosophical understanding of the city and to offer a deeper representation of this phenomenon.
 
Materials and Methods This study was conducted within the paradigm of free inquiry, utilizing logical reasoning and the method of uncovering hidden meanings in texts. The research is grounded in extensive studies of primary and secondary sources that analyze and interpret the ideas of Deleuze, Guattari, and DeLanda. By employing this method, efforts have been made to identify the gaps in the philosophical understanding of the city and, simultaneously, to introduce an organistic representation as a different and deeper way to interpret the city's semantic system. This approach allows the researcher to reveal the overlooked aspects of assemblage theory through precise and logical analysis.
Results and Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that assemblage theory, as a methodological framework, defines the city as a phenomenon composed of inherent realities of "the virtual" and "the actual." This analytical logic leads us to the conclusion that the city is a methodological space for researchers, designers, and urban managers, which, while stable, possesses instability within its semantic structures. From the perspective of assemblage theory and methodology, the city can be identified as an abstract spatial system that approaches history-making, place-making, idea-making, and multiple forms of being with a different outlook. This perspective, due to its intermediate-threshold space and the possibility of aligning vast amounts of data, offers multiple achievements in the field of urban studies and urban research.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 June 2025

  • Receive Date 24 October 2023
  • Revise Date 16 September 2024
  • Accept Date 02 February 2025