Interiority Against Control: The Metaphysics, Ethics, and Politics of Information Technologies through Deleuze and Confucianism by Michael Ardoline, 2026
This monograph synthesizes Deleuze and Confucianism for a novel account of the good life at the dawn of a new epoch of power: control. It engages in both a broad survey of work on the current techno-political situation, while providing a response through an in depth analysis of Deleuze and Xunzi.
Ardoline uses this ancient idea to solve a very modern nightmare:
The Problem (Deleuze's "Control"): Today, algorithms, data mining, and smart tech don't just wait around to punish you. Instead, they track your data, predict your next move, and quietly nudge your choices before you even make them. They are trying to colonize your inner mind (your "interiority").
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The Solution (Xunzi's Confucianism): To fight back against this algorithmic control, we can't just rely on our "natural instincts" (because our phones are already hacking those). Instead, we need Xunzi's method of conscious self-cultivation.
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By intentionally building strong, disciplined inner lives, moral boundaries, and communal rituals, we create a shield that modern information technology cannot predict, manipulate, or control. It's about using deliberate human tradition to protect the human soul from digital puppet masters.
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For a deeper dive into how modern technologies tracking data and behavior shift power dynamics, you can watch Deleuze - Control Societies & Cybernetic Posthumanism, which explains the transition from physical confinement to continuous, digital surveillance.
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