The Sense of Anarchy and the Anarchy of Sense in Richir and Deleuze

Abstract

This article compares the philosophies of Marc Richir and Gilles Deleuze through the notions of “anarchy” and “sense,” exploring how these transform classical phenomenology. It argues that both authors replace the traditional focus on the subject with a phenomenology of Sinnbildung or “sense-in-the-making.” Richir radicalizes the phenomenological epoché toward a generative contingency, while Deleuze develops a science of surface effects rooted in concept creation and the simulacrum. Both propose a dynamic “self,” detached from traditional subjectivity, and articulate the link between interiority and exteriority in sense-making processes. This work shows how Richir and Deleuze destabilize subjective foundations, proposing an anarchic phenomenology that redefines the relationship between appearance, simulacrum, and sense production.