Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology

<br/><p><i>Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology</i> reconstructs Merleau-Ponty's treatment of the problem of ideal objects. Besmer describes Merleau-Ponty's early attempt to found ideal objects on pre-linguistic perceptual experience and shows that Merleau-Ponty ultimately came to see the shortcomings of this initial view. An examination of often ignored writings from the middle-period of Merleau-Ponty's career allows Besmer to piece together Merleau-Ponty's mature view of ideal objects one that does not overlook the contributions of perception but emphasizes the historical and cultural nature of ideal objects and one's experience of them. Merleau-Ponty's final view of ideal objects takes ideal meanings in language as paradigmatic and understands ideal objects as embedded in cultural practices and institutions. </p><br/><p>Kirk Besmer's book is the first ever to be devoted to the problem of ideal objects in Merleau-Ponty's thought. Showing for the first time the crucial conceptual developments and revisions internal to Merleau-Ponty's thought Besmer's book will change the way that Merleau-Ponty is read.</p>