In his influential work Phenomenology of Perception (originally published in 1945), the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty says that to see a house as it itself is would mean to see it from everywhere. What does he mean? After all, to see always means to see from somewhere. Precisely so. We are finite beings and so we … Continue reading A House Seen From Everywhere
Maurice Merleau-Ponty on Philosophy
In the "Preface" of his highly influential work Phenomenology of Perception (originally published in 1945), the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty wrote the following words about philosophy. Perhaps they can serve as an inspiration to embrace and even encourage the experience of being a beginner: "There is no thought that encompasses all of our thought... The philosopher … Continue reading Maurice Merleau-Ponty on Philosophy
Maurice Merleau-Ponty on Perception
The 20th-century French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty studied human perception his entire career. He stressed the absolutely fundamental, primary nature of our perception - being there and situating us in the world before any analysis, judgment, explanation or observation. Here is what he says in the "Preface" of his highly influential work Phenomenology of Perception (originally published … Continue reading Maurice Merleau-Ponty on Perception
Threat of Risk-Free Love
French philosopher Alain Badiou sees modern love under a double threat: safety and comfort. When love is presented as 'for your safety and comfort', it is a selfish kind of love, one that shifts all the risks to the other, while pretending to love them. But how can love exist without mutual vulnerability, without being … Continue reading Threat of Risk-Free Love
Spreading the Word: Feeling Lonely When Not Alone
Loneliness is a vulnerability we all, as human beings, are exposed to. While there are different ways each of us experiences loneliness, what we all share is the risk of feeling lonely. Perhaps it is an unavoidable risk, as much as we might want to escape it. But loneliness is not a single kind of … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Feeling Lonely When Not Alone
Spreading the Word: Philosophy’s Role Today
What is the role of philosophy in our modern age? We no longer believe in grand narratives (for the most part!), and empirical sciences seem to hold the keys to all existing and future knowledge. So what about philosophy - is there any place for it left? Although one of the oldest of disciplines that … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Philosophy’s Role Today
Thoreau and Thoughts on Nature
Why do we think we can go 'out into' nature and observe it when we are, ourselves, its part? Nature can put things into perspective for us because it puts us into perspective. What has this tree experienced? (my photo) "We can never have enough of Nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of … Continue reading Thoreau and Thoughts on Nature
Spreading the Word: Grappling with Relativism
If we construct our ethical reality and the way we construct it varies across cultures and times, then what is to keep us from falling into paralysing relativism where anything goes or reacting radically by positing a universal moral law? Freelance writer and philosopher Daniel Callcut explores this question in his recent article for Aeon. … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Grappling with Relativism
Maurice Merleau-Ponty on the Social World
He was friends with Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, and sought to come up with a theoretical alternative to the dichotomy of idealism vs realism. French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty thought that both these positions share the mistaken assumption of a ready-made world that we can know either intellectually (idealism) or empirically (realism). What was … Continue reading Maurice Merleau-Ponty on the Social World
Philosophical Quote About Aging
Just as philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre was writing fiction, so did his lifelong partner, philosopher and feminist activist Simone de Beauvoir. Here is a short quote from her story "The Age of Discretion", in the voice of the main character, a recently retired former teacher, intellectual, active writer, mother, and wife. "Reflexions, echoes, reverberating back and … Continue reading Philosophical Quote About Aging
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