Merleau-Ponty and the Nature of Philosophy

Abstract

GESTALT THEORY IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO MERLEAU-PONTY,PROVIDING HIM WITH THE BASIS ON WHICH TO ANALYZE THESTRUCTURE OF EXPERIENCE. IT ALSO ENABLES ONE TO EXPLAIN HISREACTION AGAINST INTROSPECTIONIST PSYCHOLOGY ANDINTELLECTUALISM. FOR MERLEAU-PONTY THE WORLD IS MOSTFUNDAMENTALLY EXPERIENCED AT A PREPREDICATIVE LEVEL, ANDHERE HE MAKES USE OF SCHELER'S NOTIONS OF THE LIVED BODYAND RESISTANCE. THIS WORLD IS THEN SHOWN TO BE THATINTUITIVELY CAPTURED BY CEZANNE'S PAINTING.