Phenomenology of Perception Author:Maurice Merleau-Ponty First published in 1945, Maurice Merleau-Ponty?s monumental Phénoménologie de la perception signalled the arrival of a major new philosophical and intellectual voice in Post-War Europe. Breaking with the prevailing picture of existentialism and phenomenology at the time, it has become one of the landmark works of Twentieth century thought. This ... more »new translation, the first for over fifty years, makes this classic work of philosophy available to a new generation of readers. Wide in scope and profound in engagement, Phenomenology of Perception undoubtedly stands in the great phenomenological tradition of Husserl, Heidegger, and Sartre. Yet Merleau-Ponty?s contribution is decisive, as he brings this tradition and other philosophical predecessors (particularly Descartes and Kant) to confront a neglected yet crucial dimension of our experience: the lived body and the phenomenal world. Charting a bold course between the reductionism of science on the one hand and a disinterested ?intellectualism? on the other, Merleau-Ponty argues that we should regard the body not as a mere biological or physical unit, but as the body with which one lives, that one experiences as one?s own, and which structures one?s situation within the world. The lived body not only grounds sensation, perception, and the experience of time, but shapes the very fabric of human existence, including sexuality, speech, one?s relations to others, and human freedom. Merleau-Ponty enriches his phenomenological investigations with engaging studies of famous cases in the history of psychology and neurology ? notably Gelb and Goldstein?s fascinating studies of Schneider ? as well as phenomena that continue to draw our attention, such as phantom limb syndrome, synaesthesia, and hallucination. His studies anticipate and have much to offer contemporary approaches to artificial intelligence, robotics, and neuroscience where the body ? hitherto relatively neglected ? is becoming a central feature of research. This new translation includes many helpful features such as the reintroduction of Merleau-Ponty?s discursive Table of Contents as subtitles into the body of the text, a comprehensive Translator?s Introduction to its main themes, essential notes explaining key terms of translation, an extensive Index, and an important updating of Merleau-Ponty?s references to now available English translations. Also included is a new foreword by Taylor Carman and an introduction to Merleau-Ponty by Claude Lefort. Translated by Donald A. Landes.« less