Kingston Philosophy Café

Please Note: To attend this event, please register with Barrie Selwyn using the contact details below, to comply with the venue.

3 Birchin Lane, London EC3V 9BW

At 15:30 Barrie Selwyn will give a talk on the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty. His background to the work of Merleau-Ponty is given here.

Join us for a presentation by Barrie Selwyn, leading a discussion of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, one of the 20th century's most influential phenomenological philosophers. Merleau-Ponty revolutionized our understanding of perception by rejecting the Cartesian separation of mind and body, instead arguing that consciousness is fundamentally embodied. His groundbreaking work "Phenomenology of Perception" established him as a pivotal figure who bridged existential philosophy with emerging insights from psychology and cognitive science.

We will explore Merleau-Ponty's radical idea that our fundamental relation to the world is through our lived, bodily engagement rather than abstract thought. We'll examine how he challenged both empiricism and intellectualism by demonstrating that perception is neither passive reception of sensory data nor intellectual construction, but rather an active, embodied dialogue with the world that precedes reflective consciousness. His concept of the "body-subject" remains profoundly relevant for contemporary discussions in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and ethics.

Beyond his theories of perception, we'll discuss Merleau-Ponty's profound influence on fields ranging from art criticism to political philosophy. His unfinished work "The Visible and the Invisible" pushed his thinking in new directions, developing concepts like "flesh" and "chiasm" that continue to inspire thinkers grappling with questions of intersubjectivity, ecological consciousness, and the relationship between humans and technology in our increasingly complex world.

Barrie Selwyn is a philosophy tutor at CityLit, former Principal of Kingston Adult Education and founder of the School of Ideas and Richmond and Hillcroft College of Adult Education. Barrie is a regular speaker at various Philosophy Groups in London and a keen supporter of lifelong learning. He is also a dedicated Jazz fan and Alto Saxophonist.

Please enter via the main door at 3 Birchin Lane. If you are likely to be late or the front door is not opened for you, please text nwp@fimc-ltd.com to be admitted.