Gilles Deleuze, the Ungrund in French

Abstract

The following article examines the concept of Ungrund, non-ground or groundlessness from the perspective of Gilles Deleuze. Firstly, we propose to do a revision concerning the different translations of the word from German into French. This word, in its original language, means the Absolute, the Undetermined which can be attributed to the German mysticism, which is a long-lasting philosophical tradition that had a remarkable impact and influence on the German Romanticism. Among the common influences on Deleuze’s work, the mystical tradition is not the most quoted, and we found instead Spinoza’s work as well as the Kantian tradition. The French philosopher suggests a reading of the Ungrund that meets Schelling and finally access to the core of Böhme’s works by the reference of Alexandre Koyré, the famous Historian of Philosophy. The Ungrund plays a fundamental role in the understanding of the first chapter of Différence et repetition, that begins with the notion of indifference. In the same way, the non-ground keeps a strong connection with the concept of bêtise and also with the development of the Idea in the Parisian philosopher.