Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

148906

History and the origin of meaning

William Hamrick

pp. 40-63

Abstract

Philosophy, in Merleau-Ponty's view, always comprises a return "to an intersubjectivity which, ever more closely, binds us to the whole of history" (S 141). Accordingly, history is a subject with which Merleau-Ponty is concerned again and again throughout his works, from the earliest up to the very last writings. Across these texts, he is concerned to argue that history provides intersubjectivity with temporal depth by (i) furnishing a dimension of historicity to an individual consciousness, by (ii) anchoring our incarnate freedom in an established order of sedimented meanings, and finally by (iii) elaborating our relationships with others in the creation of truth, meaning, and rationality.

Publication details

Published in:

Hamrick William (1987) An existential phenomenology of law: Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 40-63

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-0707-7_3

Full citation:

Hamrick William (1987) History and the origin of meaning, In: An existential phenomenology of law, Dordrecht, Springer, 40–63.