Abstract

A number of passages in "phenomenology of perception" suggest that merleau-Ponty wants to collapse entirely the distinction between the 'a priori' and the empirical, Between 'truths of reason' and 'truths of fact'. I argue that his discussion of one of the theorems of euclidean geometry reveals a less ambitious and more plausible aim--Namely, A demonstration that 'a priori' truths may be characterized by features traditionally applicable only to empirical truths, And vice versa. Merleau-Ponty's discussion of the 'a priori' and the empirical simply brings the two a little closer together, Stressing the similarities and interconnections traditionally ignored in favor of the obvious differences