Review by Choice Review
Brilliant and suggestive, the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-61) was one of the most interesting thinkers of the 20th century. His work traverses phenomenology, psychology, philosophy of art, politics, and ontology, and remains startlingly relevant despite interpretive challenges and changes in intellectual fashion. He merits a "Cambridge Companion" devoted to his thought. Editors Carman (Barnard College) and Hansen (Princeton) aim for comprehensiveness, a "fresh image," and accessibility. They meet the first two goals but fall short of the last. Many contributors interface Continental thought with analytic epistemology, philosophy of mind, and aesthetics, and some of the best papers are on perception. Two important French scholars are included, as is a discussion of Merleau-Ponty's recently translated lectures, "Nature." But this is not a book for readers new to this philosopher. Although the editors' introduction outlines Merleau-Ponty's career trajectory, insufficient attention is paid to the relation between texts produced at various points in his life, with potentially confusing results. Some contributors juxtapose, with no justification, texts with different methodologies. Likewise, papers are jumbled chronologically, with readings of later work followed by papers focusing exclusively on earlier writings. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers/faculty. A. B. Curry St. Joseph College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
