Abstract

Page Dedication ii Abbreviations iii Introduction 1 Part One The Problematic: From Galileo and Descartes to Kant Chapter I: The Mathesis of Nature 10 1. The Galilean-Cartesian Physics 10 2. Whitehead’s Criticisms of Scientific Materialism 29 3. Merleau-Ponty’s Engagement with Descartes 35 Chapter II: From a Dualism of Substances to a Two-fold Ontology 44 1. Hints for Overcoming the Bifurcation 44 2. Descartes and Malebranche 44 3. Spinoza 47 4. Leibniz 53 5. Kant 65 Part Two Overcoming the Bifurcation: Phenomenology Chapter III: The Early View of Perception and the Body and its 88 Bergsonian Sources 1. Introduction 88 2. Phenomenological Descriptions of Nature 89 3. Bergson 97 Chapter IV: Husserl and Sartre 133 1. Introduction 133 2. Husserl’s Conceptions of Nature 135 3. Sartre and Nature 169 Part Three Overcoming the Bifurcation: Ontology Chapter V: The Ontological Rehabilitation of the Sensible 194 1. Introduction 194 2. The Necessity of a “New Ontology” 195 3. The “New Ontology”: Tasks and Methods 201 4. The Flesh 222 5. The Schellingian and Bergsonian Heritage 269 6. Life in Nature 305 7. Logos Endiathetos and Logos Proforikos 319 vii Page Chapter V: The Nature of Flesh, continued 8. The Whiteheadian Response 341 Conclusion 376 Bibliography 384.