Walker Percy, initially trained as a physician, pivoted from medicine to literature following a transformative personal experience. After a tuberculosis diagnosis during his internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Percy was compelled to spend several years in recovery. This period of convalescence prompted him to question the limitations of his scientific education and fostered his interest in existentialist and phenomenological philosophies, which he explored through the works of thinkers like Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre, and by delving into the study of language.

The Shift from Medicine to Philosophy

Percy's medical career was unexpectedly halted by his illness, granting him ample time to reconsider the depth of his educational pursuits. He found his training, though scientifically rigorous, failed to encompass the subjective human experience. His quest for understanding led him to existentialism and phenomenology, philosophies that delve into human existence and consciousness. He was particularly struck by the works of Sren Kierkegaard, Edmund Husserl, and other notable philosophers, whose ideas resonated with his personal quest for meaning beyond empirical data.

The Role of Language in Human Experience

Language emerged as a pivotal focus in Percy’s intellectual journey, catalyzed by both his philosophical explorations and personal experiences. His younger daughter's profound deafness highlighted the critical role language plays in human interaction and understanding. This realization spurred Percy to study the philosophy of language intensely, recognizing it as the bridge between individuals’ inner experiences and shared reality. His subsequent essays, published in various American journals, echoed this theme, emphasizing symbols as the primary vehicles for human communication.

Essays and the Creation of "The Message in the Bottle"

Between 1954 and 1975, Percy published a series of essays across diverse journals, ranging from literary to psychological and theological publications. Despite their varied contexts, these essays shared a unifying theme: the significance of symbols in human communication. Notably absent from linguistic journals, these essays explored language's philosophical dimensions rather than its structural characteristics. "The Message in the Bottle," published in 1975, compiles these essays, including one previously unpublished piece titled “A Theory of Language.” This collection positions language as a central element of human existence and explores its profound implications.

Structural Composition of "The Message in the Bottle"

The book's organization reflects Percy's attempt to present a cohesive argument, despite its origin as separate essays. The first and last essays, written specifically for the book, serve as an introduction and conclusion, framing his exploration of language. Throughout the book, Percy employs a model to illustrate his theory, initially depicted as a triangle representing the observer, the object, and its name. This model expands into a rectangle with the introduction of a second person, symbolizing the social dimension of naming and language's role in human connection. The final essay's return to the triangular model underscores the intricate interplay between language and thought.

Exploring Intersubjectivity and Radical Anthropology

In "The Message in the Bottle," Percy underscores the concept of intersubjectivity, where one individual aids another in recognizing previously uncharted aspects of their world. This communication through language is not merely transactional; it is foundational, suggesting that language predates and shapes human existence. Percy's exploration of these themes proposes a radical anthropology: a perspective where language and human identity are inextricably linked, revealing the profound depths of human interaction and understanding.