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Merleau-Ponty & Phenomenology - PHI00029M
- Department: Philosophy
- Module co-ordinator: Prof. Keith Allen
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961) is one of the most important French philosophers of the twentieth century, and alongside Husserl, Heidegger, and Sartre one of the best known members of the phenomenological tradition. The aim of this module is to introduce Merleau-Ponty’s version of phenomenology, central to which is the embodied subject who is embedded within an intersubjective world. The main of focus of the module is MerleauPonty’s most important work, Phenomenology of Perception (1945).
Related modules
Pre-requisite modules
- None
Co-requisite modules
- None
Prohibited combinations
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
- To critically examine Merleau-Ponty’s version of Phenomenology
- To provide a grounding for independent research on Merleau-Ponty and phenomenology.
- To develop students’ abilities to understand, analyse, and critically evaluate complex abstract questions
- To develop students’ abilities to communicate complex abstract ideas in discussion and writing
Module learning outcomes
- Students should be able to display an in depth and systematic understanding of Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology, with a grasp of the forefront of current research in the area, providing a solid grounding for further independent research on related topics.
- Students should be able to analyse complex areas of knowledge, displaying critical awareness; synthesise information and ideas from a variety of sources at the forefront of the discipline; evaluate research critically; and show originality in the discussion and application of ideas from the philosophical literature in developing their own arguments.
- Students should show the ability to work autonomously and self critically on an extended essay that goes beyond the core framework that is provided in lectures and seminars.
Module content
Topics to be covered include Merleau-Ponty’s accounts of:
- the nature of phenomenology
- perception
- the body
- language
- knowledge of other minds
- self knowledge
- free will
- art and aesthetics
The module will be taught by weekly seminars discussing key texts.
Assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Summative essay |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
The formative essay proposal and reading list will be submitted in Week 7.
The formative essay plan will be submitted in Week 10.
The summative essay will be submitted on Monday, Week 2, Spring Term.
Reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Summative essay |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written or verbal feedback on the essay proposal and reading list at least two weeks after they submit it.
Students will meet their module tutor in week 10 to discuss their essay plan in person.
Students will receive feedback on the 4000 word summative assessment and reassessment four weeks after they submit it.
Indicative reading
The set text for the module is:
Merleau-Ponty, M. Phenomenology of Perception. Routledge, 1945/2013. Translated by Donald Landes. [We will use the new translation rather than Colin Smith’s 2002 translation. Students will need to bring a copy of this with them to seminars. There are multiple library copies, but students may wish to buy their own.]
Other key texts:
Carman, T. Merleau-Ponty. Routledge, 2008.
Merleau-Ponty, T. The World of Perception. Routledge, 1948/2002.
Moran, D. Introduction to Phenomenology. Routledge, 2000.
Spiegelberg, H. The Phenomenological Movement. Kluwer, 1982.
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