DELEUZE,GILLES AND NATURALISM - A CONVERGENCE WITH ECOLOGICAL THEORY AND POLITICS

Some philosophers in recent discussions concerned with current ecologi cal crises have attempted to address and sometimes to utilize poststru cturalist thought. Yet few of their studies have delineated the ecolog ical orientation of a specific poststructuralist. In this paper, I pro vide a discussion of the naturalistic ontology embraced by the contemp orary French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, one of the most significant v oices in poststructuralism I interpret Deleuze as holding an ecologica lly informed perspective that emphasizes the human place within nature while encouraging awareness of and respect for the differences of int erconnected life on the planet. I also suggest that this view may be j oined with Deleuze's innovative ethical-political approach, which he r efers to as micropolitics, to create new ways of thinking and feeling that support social and political transformation with respect to the f lourishing of ecological diversity. Finally, I briefly show how Deleuz e's ecological orientation compares to several versions of ecological theory and politics.