In Defense of Phenomenology

<p>French phenomenological philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty argued for the primary role perception plays in understanding the world as well as engaging with it. As a contributor to phenomenology Merleau-Ponty faced his fair share of criticisms. In this new book Douglas Low comes to the defence of both Merleau-Ponty and phenomenology.</p><p><em>In Defence of Phenomenology</em> uses Merleau-Ponty's philosophy to counter the criticisms raised in Vincent Descombes's <em>Modern French Philosophy</em> point by point arguing that it often misunderstood or misrepresented Merleau-Ponty's philosophy. Low clarifies Merleau-Ponty's claims then makes the case for them. He also argues against Renaud Barbaras's well-known positions that there is a break in the development of Merleau-Ponty's thought that Merleau-Ponty abandoned his earlier phenomenology and that Merleau-Ponty equated being with phenomena. Low also clarifies Merleau-Ponty's complex relationship to Hegel and Marx. Finally Low addresses the later works of Jean Baudrillard and their move away from phenomenology toward a more postmodernist philosophy in which language and mass media images dominate culture and even construct our worldview.</p><p><em>In Defence of Phenomenology</em> asserts that Merleau-Ponty more sensibly argued that even though humanity's interpretation of the world is influenced by language and the media these linguistic and media messages are first suggested by a person's needful embodied encounters with the world and with others. These messages would make little sense if they did not relate back to this more primordial encounter.</p>