Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a 20th century philosopher and contemporary of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus. His philosophy was heavily influenced by Husserl (as all phenomenologists are), but Heidegger, in particular, seems to have left an indelible mark on Merleau-Ponty’s thought. Merleau-Ponty is most notable for his inclusion of, and the especial importance he places on, the body, and the fact that to exist as a human is to be embodied.

In this first video we work through the preface as Merleau-Ponty takes us through some basic terms. Much of this will probably be revision if you have already studied Husserl, Heidegger, or Sartre. Nevertheless, we look at the terms ‘phenomenology,’ ‘science,’ ‘intentionality,’ and discuss why Merleau-Ponty chose to focus on perception. The most detailed part of the video is probably where we look at Husserl’s phenomenological reduction and Merleau-Ponty’s attitude towards it.

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