An expert on Merleau-Ponty's philosophy of language, Dr. More will present the following seminar, which promises to deepen themes we have discussed recently, like the bodily and perceptual grounding of language, as well as its character of a social institution. As indicated in the last lines of the abstract below, also in relation to the Motivation & Sedimentation Model (MSM). The talk will be given on a link from Rome, but all are welcome to H402 to view and discuss it jointly. Or else, to the usual zoom link.

Starting from Merleau-Ponty, I propose a non-dualistic conception of the perception-language relationship at the basis of the genesis of sense. The presentation will consist of four steps.

First, I will face the problem of synesthetic perception and what are the margins of this interpretation in Merleau-Ponty's work (Merleau-Ponty: 1945, 1964, 2013). This ioperation would show the preliminary and direct relation that the phenomenal sense engages with the synesthetic structure of corporeality, as something no more subordinate to the field of consciousness. In accordance with this, synesthesia will be presented as the rule of perception (Merleau-Ponty: 1945).

Second, I will develop the interpretation of language conceived - again with Merleau-Ponty (Merleau-Ponty: 1960, 1969, 2003, 2020) - as an intersubjective and historical institution. I will clarify what is meant by institution (langue as an institution) and I will define the conception of act of speech (parole) in terms of a praxis which emerges from the institution and transforms it. 

Third, I will highlight the relationship between language and synesthetic perception by developing the complementary relationship between the two dimensions. Where perception offers an aggregate of sense by providing a pre-thematic understanding of the real, language develops, through the praxis of parole of linguistic subjects, an operation that shapes and organizes the perceptive sense. 

Finally, I will suggest possible overlaps between my approach and a recent proposal of interpreting Merleau-Ponty’s work with the Motivation & Sedimentation Model (Zlatev: 2023).

 

Merleau-Ponty M., (1945), Phénoménologie de la perception, Paris, Éditions Gallimard, 2020.

Merleau-Ponty M (1960) Signes, Éditions Gallimard, 

(Merleau-Ponty M 1964), Le visible et l’invisible, Paris, Éditions Gallimard, Paris 2019.

Merleau-Ponty M (1969) La prose du monde, Éditions Gallimard, 

Merleau-Ponty M (2003) L’institution, la passivité. Notes de cours au Collège de France (1954-1955), Éditions Belin

Merleau-Ponty M (2011) Le monde sensible et le monde de l’expression. Cours au Collège de France. Notes 1953, texte établi par E. de Saint Aubert e S. Kristensen, Metis Presses

Merleau-Ponty M (2020) Le problème de la parole. Cours au Collège de France. Notes, 1953-1954, texte établi par L. Andén, F. Robert e E. de Saint Aubert, Metis Presses

Zlatev J., (2023), The Intertwining of Bodily Experience and Language: The Continued Relevance of Merleau-Ponty, in Histoire Épistémologie Langage, 45-1 (2023), pp. 41-63