The operative world : meaning and understanding in Merleau-Ponty
This thesis seeks an elucidation of Merleau-Pontyâs conception of 'operative' intentionality (lâintentionnalitĂ© opĂ©rante). This concept is central to Merleau-Pontyâs discussions of meaning and understanding throughout his career. I argue that Merleau-Pontyâs early work, in which he articulates the nature and place of operative intentionality in agency and perception, makes available a general thesis concerning meaning and understanding. Merleau-Pontyâs central claim here is that meaning should not be conceived of as the outcome of acts of interpretation or judgement. I argue that this general thesis is unsatisfactorily represented in some of the most prominent secondary literature on Merleau-Pontyâs work. Nonetheless, there is a tension at the heart of Phenomenology of Perception that compromises the clarity and coherence of Merleau-Pontyâs conception of operative intentionality. The difficulty lies in the way Merleau-Ponty conceives the relationship between perception and language in the early work. It is this problematic that provides the key to appreciating the developments that Merleau-Ponty instigates through his attempts to formulate a phenomenology of language and expression in the 1950s.
Shaw, Dominic Michael
The operative world : meaning and understanding in Merleau-Ponty. This thesis seeks an elucidation of Merleau-Pontyâs conception of 'operative' intentionality (lâintentionnalitĂ© opĂ©rante). This concept is central to Merleau-Pontyâs discussions of meaning and understanding throughout his career. I argue that Merleau-Pontyâs early work, in which he articulates the nature and place of operative intentionality in agency and perception, makes available a general thesis concerning meaning and understanding. Merleau-Pontyâs central claim here is that meaning should not be conceived of as the outcome of acts of interpretation or judgement. I argue that this general thesis is unsatisfactorily represented in some of the most prominent secondary literature on Merleau-Pontyâs work. Nonetheless, there is a tension at the heart of Phenomenology of Perception that compromises the clarity and coherence of Merleau-Pontyâs conception of operative intentionality. The difficulty lies in the way Merleau-Ponty conceives the relationship between perception and language in the early work. It is this problematic that provides the key to appreciating the developments that Merleau-Ponty instigates through his attempts to formulate a phenomenology of language and expression in the 1950s.
operative world meaning merleau_ponty seeks elucidation merleau_ponty conception operative intentionality concept central merleau_ponty discussion mean throughout career argue merleau_ponty early_work articulate nature place operative intentionality agency perception make_available general concern mean understanding merleau_ponty central_claim meaning conceive outcome act interpretation judgement argue general represent prominent secondary_literature merleau_ponty work nonetheless tension heart phenomenology perception compromise clarity coherence merleau_ponty conception operative intentionality difficulty lie way merleau_ponty conceives relationship perception language early_work problematic provide_key appreciate development merleau_ponty attempt formulate phenomenology language expression