Gilles Deleuze From A to Zwith Claire Parnet · 1988–1989

W as in Wittgenstein

Letter W of Gilles Deleuze’s L’Abécédaire (From A to Z), an interview with Claire Parnet directed by Pierre-André Boutang (1988–1989). Length: 1 min. Video with French, English and Spanish subtitles and the full transcript.

Transcript

Claire ParnetLet's move on to "W."

There's nothing in "W."

Claire ParnetYes, there's Wittgenstein. I know he's nothing for you, but could you say a few words.

I don't want to talk about that... For me, it's a philosophical catastrophe. It's the very example of a "school," it's a regression of all philosophy, a massive regression. The Wittgenstein matter is quite sad. They imposed a system of terror in which, under the pretext of doing something new, it's poverty instituted in all grandeur. . . There isn't a word to describe this danger, but this danger is one that recurs, it's not the first time that it has happened. It's serious, especially since Wittgensteinians are mean and destructive. So if they win, there could be an assassination of philosophy. They are assassins of philosophy.

Claire ParnetIt's serious, then.

Yes. . . One must remain very vigilant.