stankovic, sasa thesis.pdf - Atrium - University of Guelph

coexisting levels” (DR 84). That repetition is the activity whereby the passive self constitutes the
individual in time means that two different repetitions constitute two different individuals in two
different times. It is important to understand the relationship between the first synthesis and the
two other syntheses in order to understand this point. I agree that the second synthesis of time is
important. However, the second synthesis is only one way of constituting the individual in time.
On the other hand, Deleuze argues for the alternative way of constituting the individual in time.
This alternative way is the third synthesis of time. In fact, Deleuze argues that the third synthesis
of time must overcome the second synthesis of time. For this reason, we are not to understand
the second and the third syntheses of time in linear terms. It is not the case that we must go
through the second synthesis of time in order to reach the third synthesis of time. Instead, when
Deleuze is talking about the second and the third syntheses of time, he is really talking about two
alternative relationships to the first synthesis of time. In fact, he is talking about two mutually
exclusive alternatives. It is either the relationship between the first and the second syntheses of
time that constitutes the individual in time or it is the relationship between the first and the third
syntheses of time that constitutes the individual in time. In the first instance, Deleuze talks about
this individual in terms of the Cogito. In the second instance, he talks about it in terms of the
Overman. In what follows I look at the three passive syntheses of time, in other words, I look at
the three ways in which the passive self acts in order to become an individual in time. However,
because Deleuze’s argument is complex, I first give a general overview of the three syntheses of
time. In this general overview I ask for the reader’s patience. My goal here is not precision but
rather simple presentation. I follow up this general discussion with a more detailed discussion of
the three syntheses of time.
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