Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Date of Birth: March 14, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: May 3, 1961

Biography

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a prominent French phenomenological philosopher, born on March 14, 1908, in Rochefort-sur-Mer, France. He is best known for his work in phenomenology and existentialism, and he significantly contributed to the fields of perception, art, and politics. Merleau-Ponty studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he was influenced by the works of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger. His major work, “Phenomenology of Perception,” published in 1945, explores the relationship between the body and perception, arguing that the body is the primary site of knowing the world. Throughout his career, Merleau-Ponty held various academic positions, including at the University of Lyon, the Sorbonne, and the Collège de France. He also co-founded the influential journal “Les Temps Modernes” with Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Unlike Sartre, Merleau-Ponty believed that human freedom is always situated within a context of bodily experience and social relations. Maurice Merleau-Ponty passed away on May 3, 1961, in Paris, France, leaving behind a legacy of profound philosophical insights that continue to influence contemporary thought.

5 Interesting Facts about Maurice Merleau-Ponty

1. Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a close colleague and friend of Jean-Paul Sartre, but they eventually had a falling out over political disagreements.

2. He was a prolific writer and his works span various disciplines, including psychology, literature, and politics.

3. Merleau-Ponty’s concept of “embodied perception” has been influential in contemporary cognitive science and psychology.

4. He served as a soldier during World War II and was involved in the French Resistance.

5. Despite his untimely death at the age of 53, Merleau-Ponty left a rich body of work that continues to be studied and analyzed.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maurice Merleau-Ponty

1. “We know not through our intellect but through our experience.”

2. “The body is our general medium for having a world.”

3. “The world is…the natural setting of, and field for, all my thoughts and all my explicit perceptions.”

4. “Philosophy is not the reflection of a pre-existing truth, but, like art, the act of bringing truth into being.”

5. “To perceive is to render oneself present to something through the body.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s career was primarily academic, and as such, he did not achieve significant financial wealth. His highest net worth is not well-documented, as his contributions were more intellectual than financial.