New Books in Critical Theory Conceptual Digestion with Anya Daly
Sep 19, 2025
Dr. Anya Daly, a philosopher exploring the intersection of phenomenology, psychology, and Buddhist philosophy, delves into a captivating discussion about meditation and perception. She shares her journey from law to Buddhist practice, emphasizing how art reveals unseen dimensions of experience. The conversation touches on Merleau-Ponty's ideas of embodied perception and the political implications of art. Additionally, Daly connects Indigenous lifeworlds with mental health, offering insight into the shared experiences of humans and animals.
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Nonlinear Path Into Philosophy
- Anya Daly recounts moving from New Zealand to Australia, starting law, psychiatric nursing, and finding Buddhist meditation at 18.
- She raised three children as a single mother while pursuing philosophy and later studied in France for five years.
Art As Transformative Perception
- Art offers a non-conceptual way to disclose hidden aspects of the world and can motivate political action.
- Meloponte argues attentive perception transforms both object and perceiver into meaningful relations.
Kandinsky's Haystack Revelation
- Daly tells how Kandinsky, after staring at Monet's haystacks, felt the concept of 'haystack' evaporate into pure color and form.
- She compares that moment to Cezanne's practice of researching context deeply before painting to reveal fresh perception.