Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a pioneering existential phenomenologist whose work deeply influenced the trajectory of postwar French philosophy. His intellectual journey intertwined with contemporary debates on perception, consciousness, and politics, securing his place among the great thinkers of the 20th century. A prominent figure, he navigated both academic and political landscapes, leaving a profound impact on philosophy and the social sciences.

Formative Years

The death of Merleau-Ponty’s father when Maurice was just a boy profoundly shaped his early years. Raised in Paris by a devout Catholic mother, Maurice, alongside his siblings, was steeped in religious teachings. However, by the 1930s, Merleau-Ponty had grown skeptical of the Church, distancing himself from religious practices. Although he once declared atheism, he later shifted to agnosticism. His final views on religion remain somewhat unclear, but a Catholic Mass at his funeral in May 1961 suggests a possible reconciliation with his early faith.

Merleau-Ponty’s writings reveal a childhood marked by happiness, a period he felt unmatched in his later life. The early loss of his father likely deepened his bond with his mother, to whom he remained devoted until her passing, which occurred only a few years before his own death.

His educational journey began at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, progressing to the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he excelled, completing his agrégation de philosophie in 1931. Afterward, he embarked on a teaching career, starting at a lycée in Beauvais, followed by a research fellowship, and then teaching again at Chartres. He returned to Paris in 1935, joining the faculty at his alma mater, the École Normale.

Philosophical Contributions

Merleau-Ponty’s military service during World War II, following the German invasion of Poland, coincided with his creation of his first major philosophical work, The Structure of Behavior. Although completed in 1938, the book wasn't published until 1942 due to wartime interruptions. This work reexamined the distinctions between physical, biological, and mental aspects of human existence, arguing for their conceptual interdependence rather than any causal relationships.

Following the war and during the German occupation, he resumed his academic pursuits, culminating in the publication of his seminal text, The Phenomenology of Perception, in 1945. Here, he challenged existing notions of perception, advocating a return to examining "things themselves." He posited that self-understanding arises through one's interactions with the world, a concept deeply influenced by Husserl, Marcel, and Heidegger. This work established Merleau-Ponty as a foundational figure in existential philosophy, earning accolades from contemporaries such as Paul Ricœur.

Post-liberation, Merleau-Ponty's career flourished as he joined the University of Lyon and co-edited Les Temps modernes with Jean-Paul Sartre. His academic ascent continued with a position at the Sorbonne and later, a prestigious chair at the Collège de France, which he held until his death. Notably, he was the youngest philosopher to be appointed to this esteemed post.

Intersecting Philosophy and Politics

Merleau-Ponty’s philosophical inquiries extended into political theory. His writings on Marxism and social philosophy explored the implications of historical actions and criticized orthodox Marxist approaches. This exploration is captured in works such as Humanism and Terror and Adventures of the Dialectic, where he scrutinized the Communist Party's rigidity and the broader political landscape.

Initially aligning with Communist ideals in the late 1940s, Merleau-Ponty eventually distanced himself from Marxist politics, diverging from Sartre’s increasing Marxist inclinations. This ideological shift led to their professional separation. Despite this, Merleau-Ponty’s political insights remained influential, as acknowledged by Sartre himself after Merleau-Ponty’s passing.

Explorations in Art and Language

In his later years, Merleau-Ponty delved into the realms of language, literature, and art, producing essays that furthered his thesis on perception. These writings,...