MerleauPonty's idea of the body-subject challenges traditional mind-body dualism from "summary" of Humanly Possible by Sarah Bakewell
Merleau-Ponty's idea of the body-subject presents a challenge to the traditional dualism of mind and body that has long dominated Western philosophical thought. This dualism posits a strict separation between the mind, as the seat of consciousness and rationality, and the body, as a mere physical vessel. According to this view, the mind is considered superior to the body, with the body often seen as a hindrance or limitation to the workings of the mind. Merleau-Ponty, however, rejects this dualistic framework, arguing that the mind and body are not separate entities but are instead deeply intertwined. He emphasizes the embodied nature of human experience, suggesting that our perception of the world is fundamentally shaped by our bodily interactions with it. In other words, our bodies are not passive objects but active agents that mediate our en...
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