Philosophy ETDs

Publication Date

7-22-1971

Abstract

Merleau-Ponty claims to have! overcome the traditional philosophical problem of the dualism of the body and the mind by describing their unity in an ambiguous "body-subject." However, it is easily demonstrated that in addition to the "body-subject11 or "pre-reflexive consciousness" Merleau-Ponty must and does allow a true and separate reflexive consciousness. It is just this reflexive consciousness, "mind," which must be reunited with the body, "body-subject," in order to overcome the dualism. Merleau-Ponty has only added a kind of subjectivity to the body, he has not united the traditional senses of "body" and "mind," both of which he must allow. That he believes he has done so is due to the theme of "ambiguity" which runs throughout, his philosophy, and to a confusion as to the sort of dualism he is investigating. Merleau-Ponty may have resolved the dualism of the knower and the known, but he has not accomplished the unification of body and mind.

Degree Name

Philosophy

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Philosophy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Howard N. Tuttle

Second Committee Member

Paul F. Schmidt

Third Committee Member

Brian Edgar O'Neil

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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