In Our Time: Philosophy

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

45 snips
Apr 24, 2025
Komarine Romdenh-Romluc, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Sheffield, joins Thomas Baldwin, an Emeritus Professor at the University of York, and Timothy Mooney, an Associate Professor in Dublin. They discuss Maurice Merleau-Ponty's radical rejection of Cartesian dualism, emphasizing how our embodied perception shapes our understanding of reality. The conversation touches on the development of children's awareness, philosophical rivalries, and the impact of Merleau-Ponty's work on diverse fields like cognitive science. They also explore his unique perspectives on freedom and relationships.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Merleau-Ponty on Body and Mind

  • Merleau-Ponty rejected Descartes' mind-body dualism by emphasizing the body as a lived subject.
  • He introduced multiple senses of body: objective, phenomenal, habitual, and body schemas that shape perception.
INSIGHT

Philosophical Influences on Merleau-Ponty

  • Merleau-Ponty drew on Husserl's phenomenology and Gestalt psychology to challenge atomistic views of perception.
  • He emphasized holistic immediate perception and the importance of existence in human life.
INSIGHT

The Body's Consciousness Through Habit

  • Merleau-Ponty argues the body has a form of consciousness embedded in habitual skills.
  • Actions like brushing teeth demonstrate how the body 'grasps' the world without conscious thought.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app