In Defense of Phenomenology: Merleau-Ponty's Philosophy

Description

French phenomenological philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty argued for the primary role perception plays in understanding the world as well as engaging with it. As a contributor to phenomenology, Merleau-Ponty faced his fair share of criticisms. In this new book, Douglas Low comes to the defence of both Merleau-Ponty and phenomenology. In Defence of Phenomenology uses Merleau-Ponty's philosophy to counter the criticisms raised in Vincent Descombes's Modern French Philosophy point by point, arguing that it often misunderstood or misrepresented Merleau-Ponty's philosophy. Low clarifies Merleau-Ponty's claims, then makes the case for them. He also argues against Renaud Barbaras's well-known positions that there is a break in the development of Merleau-Ponty's thought, that Merleau-Ponty abandoned his earlier phenomenology, and that Merleau-Ponty equated being with phenomena. Low also clarifies Merleau-Ponty's complex relationship to Hegel and Marx. Finally, Low addresses the later works of Jean Baudrillard and their move away from phenomenology toward a more postmodernist philosophy, in which language and mass media images dominate culture and even construct our worldview. In Defence of Phenomenology asserts that Merleau-Ponty more sensibly argued that even though humanity's interpretation of the world is influenced by language and the media, these linguistic and media messages are first suggested by a person's needful, embodied encounters with the world and with others. These messages would make little sense if they did not relate back to this more primordial encounter. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction 1 Early and Persistent Criticisms of Merleau-Ponty's Philosophy Phenomenology and Perceived Being Phenomenological Time: Presence and Absence Absolute Subject General/Anonymous Subject Phenomenology's Dialectic Merleau-Ponty and Sartre on the "Interworld" General Comments Regarding Postmodernism 2 One Merleau-Ponty, Not Two 3 Merleau-Ponty's Criticism and Embrace of Hegel and Marx Epistemology Interpretation History Party and Class Dialectic and History Concluding Remarks 4 Marx, Baudrillard, and Merleau-Ponty on Alienation Marx Baudrillard Merleau-Ponty Bibliography Index