The understanding of the body and movement in merleau-ponty

Abstract

The author seeks an explanation for Merleau-Ponty’s expression “the body understands”, to which a real value is applied: The objects of the world have a signification that the body grasps by way of perception. The analysis focuses on Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of perception and on notes from two of his courses, Le monde sensible et le monde de l’expression and La nature. In these works, there is a constant allusion to the I can as an underlying and grounding mode with regard to the I think. The French philosopher thus grants a central role to movement that demonstrates the interweaving of the body with the world.