1st Edition

Maurice Merleau-Ponty: Basic Writings

Edited By Thomas Baldwin Copyright 2004
    384 Pages
    by Routledge

    374 Pages
    by Routledge

    Merleau-Ponty was a pivotal figure in twentieth century French philosophy. He was responsible for bringing the phenomenological methods of the German philosophers - Husserl and Heidegger - to France and instigated a new wave of interest in this approach. His influence extended well beyond the boundaries of philosophy and can be seen in theories of politics, psychology, art and language.
    This is the first volume to bring together a comprehensive selection of Merleau-Ponty's writing.
    Sections from the following are included:
    The Primacy of Perception
    The Structure of Behaviour
    The Phenomenology of Perception
    The Prose of the World
    The Visible and the Invisible
    Sense and Non-Sense
    The Adventures of the Dialectic
    In a substantial critical introduction Thomas Baldwin provides a critical discussion of the main themes of Merleau-Ponty's philosophy, connecting it to subsequent philosophical debates and setting it in the context of the ideas of Bergson, Husserl, Heidegger and Sartre. Each text is also prefaced with an explanation which sets it in its context in Merleau-Ponty's work; and there are extensive suggestions for further reading to enable students to pursue the issues raised by Merleau-Ponty. Thus the book provides the ideal materials for students studying Merleau-Ponty for the first time.

    Chapter 01 Editor's Introduction; Part 1 Merleau-Ponty's Prospectus of his Work; Part 02 Selections from the Structure of Behavior; Part 03 Selections from the Phenomenology of Perception; Chapter 02 The Body; Chapter 03 The World as Perceived; Chapter 04 Being-for-Itself and Being-in-the-World bp0004 Selection from the Prose of the World bp0005 Selection from the Visible and the Invisible bp0006 Painting bp0007 History;

    Biography

    Thomas Baldwin is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of York. Recent publications include: The Cambridge History of Philosophy 1870-1945 (2003), and Contemporary Philosophy: Philosophy in English since 1945 (2001); other publications include G.E. Moore (Routledge 1990).

    'An invaluable collection. One of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century, Merleau-Ponty has been long overdue for serious philosophical reassessment in the English-speaking world. Here, finally, in a single volume readers can appreciate the full breadth and subtlety of his groundbreaking work.' - Taylor Carman, Editor of The Cambridge Companion to Merleau-Ponty

    'If, as Merleau-Ponty insists, true philosophy consists in relearning to look at the world, then we should be truly grateful to Tom Baldwin for allowing us to relearn how to look at Merleau-Ponty, who is - by any measure - one of the great philosophers of the last century'
    - Simon Critchley, New School/Essex University