Intersubjectivity and Phenomenology of The Other: Merleau Ponty's Contribution

S P A C E , T IM E , A N D C U L T U R E
E d ite d b y
D A V ID C A R R
and
C H E U N G C H A N -F A I
K L U W E R A C A D E M IC P U B L IS H E R S
D O R D REC H T / BO STO N / LONDON
Intersubjectivity and Phenomenology of the Other:
Merleau-Ponty’s Contribution
LA U K w ok-ying
T h e C h in e s e U n iv e rs ity o f H o n g K o n g
Introduction
I t is n o w a w e ll-k n o w n fa c t th a t o n e o f M e rle a u -P o n ty ’s b a s ic and

e n d u rin g c o n trib u tio n s to th e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l m o v e m e n t re s id e s in h is
d e ta ile d th e m a tiz a tio n o f th e b o d y p r o p e r . I n c o n tr a s t to b o t h H u s s e r l ’s Id e e n
I a n d H e i d e g g e r ’s S e in u n d Z e it, in th e P h é n o m é n o lo g ie d e la p e r c e p tio n th e
p h e n o m e n a l f i e l d is s t r u c t u r e d t h r o u g h a n d t h r o u g h b y t h e c a r n a l s u b je c t, to
th e e f f e c t th a t f o r M e r le a u - P o n ty c o r p o r e ity p la y s a p iv o ta l r o le n o t o n ly in
th e c o n s titu tio n o f th e p e r c e p tu a l w o r ld b u t i n th a t o f t h e c u ltu r a l w o r ld to o .
B y a d o p tin g h is o w n g e n e tic o - p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l a p p ro a c h w h ic h d ra w s u p o n
m e tic u lo u s o b s e r v a tio n s f r o m c h ild p s y c h o lo g y f o llo w e d b y c a r e f u l a n a ly s e s ,
M e r le a u - P o n ty s u c c e e d s i n s h o w in g th a t th e c u ltu r a l w o r ld h a s a c a r n a l b a s is :
I t is f ir s t o f a l l a n in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r l d c o m p o s e d o f a p l u r a li t y o f a n o n y m o u s
s u b j e c t s , i .e . s u b j e c t s w h i c h a r e a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s e l f a n d a n o t h e r . I t i s u p o n
th is p rim o rd ia l le v e l of in te r s u b je c tiv ity th a t a seco n d le v e l of
in te rs u b je c tiv ity — in te rs u b je c tiv ity of th e in te lle c tu a l c o n s c io u s n e s s e s —
e m e r g e s . T h e la tte r is c o m p o s e d o f d is tin c tiv e s e lf - c o n s c io u s in d iv id u a litie s .

O n e o f M e r l e a u - P o n t y ’ s g r e a t e s t m e r i t s c o n s i s t s i n s h o w i n g t h a t i t is o n l y a t
th e s e c o n d le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity th a t th e p r o b le m o f in te lle c tu a l s o li p s is m
(in th e m a im e r o f H u m e ) o r e x is te n tia l s o lip s is m (in th e m a n n e r o f H e id e g g e r
i n B e i n g a n d T im e ) a r i s e s . T h e p a g e s b e l o w p r o p o s e t o d e m o n s t r a t e M e r l e a u -
P o n t y ’s s p e c if ic c o n tr ib u tio n to th e e x p lic a tio n a n d a r tic u la tio n o f th e s e tw o
l e v e l s o f i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y . I f t h i s a t t e m p t is s u c c e s s f u l , i t c a n s e r v e t o a r b i t r a t e
th e d is p u te b e tw e e n th e s o c ia l s c ie n tis t, to w h o m in te r s u b je c tiv ity is a f ir s t
e v id e n c e , a n d th e p h ilo s o p h e r , to w h o m s o lip s is m is a r e c u r r e n t p r o b le m .
135
D . C a r r a n d C.-F. C h e u n g (ed s.), S p a c e , Tim e, a n d C u ltu re, 1 3 5 - 1 5 8 .
© 2 0 0 4 K lu w e r A c a d e m ic P u b lish e r s . P r in te d in th e N e th e r la n d s .
136 L A U K W O K -Y IN G
1. The Importance of Corporeity

in the Constitution of the Cultural World
1.1 Intertwining of the Natural World and the Cultural World
W h a t is th e re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e n a tu ra l w o rld a n d th e c u ltu r a l

w o r ld ? I f th e r e is n o d o u b t th a t th e p r im o r d ia l N a tu r e is a t t h e b a s is o f th e
c u ltu r a l w o r ld , a s M e r le a u - P o n ty f ir s t o u tlin e d in T h e S tr u c tu r e o f B e h a v i o r , 1
th e a u th o r o f th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n n e v e r u n d e r e s tim a te s th e
e n ig m a o f th e tr a n s itio n f r o m n a tu r e to c u ltu r e , n o r , in th e te r m s o f T h e
V is ib le a n d th e I n v i s i b l e , t h a t o f t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e f l e s h t o t h e i d e a . F i r s t
o f a ll, th e c u ltu r a l w o r ld a n d t h e n a tu r a l w o r ld a re n o t tw o d is tin c t la y e r s o r
s tr a ta o f th e w o r ld in its p h e n o m e n a l a p p e a r a n c e . I f o n th e o n e h a n d th e
h u m a n w o r ld is a lw a y s e s ta b lis h e d o n th e b a s is o f a n in h u m a n n a tu r e , th e
n a tu r a l w o r ld , o n th e o th e r , a lw a y s s h o w s t h r o u g h i t s e l f a c r o s s th e c u ltu r a l
w o r l d , a n d th i s h a p p e n s in s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e tw o is
n e ith e r t h a t o f o n e b e s id e th e o th e r n o r o n e s u p e r im p o s e d o n th e o th e r . T h e ir
r e la tio n s h ip is r a th e r th a t o f o n e in t h e o th e r , w h ic h th e la te r M e r le a u - P o n ty
c a lls in te r tw in in g ( e n tr e la c e m e n t) . “ J u s t a s N a tu r e p e n e tr a te s d o w n to th e
c o r e o f m y p e r s o n a l lif e a n d in te r tw in e s w i t h it, li k e w is e b e h a v io r s s e ttle in
N a tu r e a n d a r e d e p o s ite d th e r e in th e f o r m o f a c u ltu r a l w o r ld .” 2
1.2 The Cultural World is an Intersubjective World as

Community of Anonymous Subjectivities
In d eed th e c u ltu r a l w o rld sh a re s th e p re -p e rso n a l and anonym ous

c h a r a c te r o f th e n a tu r a l w o r ld . H o w e v e r , in r e la tio n to th e la tte r , th e f o r m e r
c o m p ris e s th e fo llo w in g c h a ra c te ris tic s : a ll c u ltu ra l o b je c ts bear w ith
th e m s e lv e s a m o re o r le s s s u b je c tiv e c h a r a c te r a s o b je c ts c r e a te d b y h u m a n
b e in g s o f a d e te r m in a te c o m m u n ity . T a k in g to b a c c o a s a n e x a m p le : a s a
c u ltu ra l o b j e c t it w a s o r i g i n a t e d by A m e ric a n In d ia n s . T h e la tte r h a v e a
d e te rm in a te w a y to consum e it s u c h th a t th e ir o w n w a y o f c o n s u m p tio n
1 M e r le a u - P o n t y w r it e s t h a t t h e “p r i m o r d i a l N a tu r e ” is “ t h a t p r e - o b j e c t i v e
s e n s i b l e f ie l d in w h i c h th e b e h a v i o r o f o t h e r p e r s o n s a p p e a r s , w h i c h is p r i o r a c c o r d i n g
to its m e a n i n g t o t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f o t h e r p e r s o n s j u s t a s i t is p r io r to t h e N a t u r e o f t h e
s c i e n c e s , a n d w h i c h t r a n s c e n d e n t a l r e f le c t i o n c o u l d d i s c o v e r .” M a u r ic e M e r le a u -
P o n t y , L a s tr u c tu r e d u c o m p o r te m e n t { S C h e r e a f t e r ) ( P a r is : 1 st e d . 1 9 4 2 , 2 n d e d .,
P r e s s e s U n i v e r s i ta i r e s d e F r a n c e , 1 9 4 9 ) , 1 8 0 , n o t e ; T h e S tr u c tu r e o f B e h a v io r {SB
h e r e a f te r ) , tr a n s . A . L . F i s h e r ( B o s to n : B e a c o n P r ., 1 9 6 3 ), 2 4 5 , n . 8 2 . F o r th e E n g l i s h
t r a n s l a t i o n s , th e p a g e n u m b e r is g iv e n o n l y a s a r e f e r e n c e , w h e r e a s th e E n g l i s h
q u o t a t i o n s a r e o f te n m o d i f i e d b y th e p r e s e n t a u t h o r w i t h o u t f u r th e r n o tic e .
2 M . M e r l e a u - P o n t y , P h é n o m é n o lo g ie d e la p e r c e p tio n {P h P h e r e a f t e r ) (P a r is :
G a llim a r d , 1 9 4 5 ), 3 9 9 ; P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n (P P h e r e a f t e r ) , tr a n s . C . S m ith
( L o n d o n : R o u t le d g e & K e g a n P a u l, 1 9 6 2 ), 3 4 7 .
IN T E R S U B J E C T IV IT Y A N D P H E N O M E N O L O G Y O F TH E O T H E R 137
b e c o m e s , in th e e y e s o f t h e I n d ia n s th e m s e lv e s , n e a r ly p a r t o f th e n a tu r e o f
to b a c c o . B u t o n c e to b a c c o w a s in tr o d u c e d in to o th e r c o u n tr ie s , th e w a y it
w a s c o n s u m e d h a d b e e n d iv e r s if ie d . F o r e x a m p le , b e f o r e th e m a n u f a c tu r e o f
c ig a r e tte s , E u r o p e a n s s m o k e d th e p ip e , w h e r e a s C h in e s e u s e d b a m b o o tr u n k s ,
b ro n z e or p o rc e la in sn u ffb o x e s. T h e re is a c e rta in s u b je c tiv e c h a ra c te r
in h e r e n t to to b a c c o a s c u ltu r a l o b je c t. B u t th is s u b je c tiv ity is a n a n o n y m o u s
s u b j e c t i v i t y k n o w n u n d e r t h e m o d e o f t h e “ o n e ” ( “o n ” i n F r e n c h o r “m a n ” i n
G erm an ): o n e s m o k e s th e p ip e in E ig h te e n th C e n tu ry F ra n c e ; one uses
b a m b o o t r u n k s t o s m o k e a t t h e s a m e e p o c h i n C h i n a . T h e F r e n c h w o r d “o n ”
a n d t h e G e r m a n w o r d “m a n , ” m o r e t h a n t h e w o r d “o n e ” i n E n g l i s h , e x p r e s s a
p lu r a lity o f a n o n y m o u s s u b je c ts p r e s u p p o s e d b y th e c u ltu r a l w o r ld . “ I n th e
c u ltu ra l o b je c t, I fe e l th e c lo s e p re se n c e of o th e rs b e n e a th a v e il of
a n o n y m ity .” 3
1.3 The Body of the Other as the First Cultural Object
I n e a c h c i v i l i z a t i o n , t h e r e is a c o m m o n m o d e o f u s a g e f o r e a c h u t e n s i l
s u c h th a t th e s im p le h a n d lin g o f a u te n s il is a lr e a d y a h u m a n b e h a v io r lo a d e d
w ith c u ltu r a l s ig n if ic a n c e . A s b e a r e r o f h u m a n b e h a v io r , th e b o d y o f th e
O t h e r a s a n o n y m o u s s u b j e c t is t h e o n e to w h i c h I r e f e r e x p l i c i t l y o r i m p li c it l y
e v e ry ti m e w hen I h a n d le u te n s ils . C o n s e q u e n tly , a ll c u ltu r a l o b je c ts
p r e s ù p p o s e n e c e s s a r ily t h e b o d y o f t h e O th e r , a n d w e c a n s a y th a t th e b o d y
o f t h e O t h e r is “ t h e f i r s t o f a l l c u l t u r a l o b j e c t s a n d t h e o n e b y w h i c h t h e y [ a l l
c u l t u r a l o b j e c t s ] e x i s t ” .4
H o w e v e r , i f th e b o d y o f th e O th e r is p r e s u p p o s e d b y th e c u ltu r a l w o r ld ,
h o w is it p e r c e iv e d ? H o w c a n it a p p e a r n e ith e r a s a m e r e th in g n o r s im p ly a s
a c u ltu ra l o b je c t a m o n g o th e rs b u t g e n u in e ly a s a n in c a rn a te d c o n s c io u s n e s s ?
F r o m m y p o i n t o f v i e w a s a p e r c e i v i n g s u b je c t, is n o t a n o b j e c t s e e n f r o m t h e
o u ts id e s im p ly a n o b je c t p e rc e iv e d ?
1.4. The Irrefutable Presence of the Other in Human Dialogue
W h e n H u s s e r l tr ie d to u n d e r s ta n d th e tr a n s itio n f r o m r a w m a te r ia ls a t
h a n d to th e id e a l i t y o f g e o m e t r y a s o b j e c t o f e x a c t s c ie n c e , i.e . c u lt u r a l o b j e c t
o f th e h ig h e r th e o r e tic a l o r d e r, h e e n c o u n te r e d th e u n a v o id a b le p r o b le m of
la n g u a g e ,5 w h ic h h e r e c o g n iz e d a s p la y in g a f u n d a m e n ta l r o le in th e q u e s tio n
3 PhP, 400; PP, 348.

4 PhP, 401; PP, 348.
5 Edm und H u s s e rl, D ie K r is is der e u r o p ä is c h e n W is s e n s c h a fte n u n d d ie
tr a n s z e n d e n ta le P h ä n o m e n o lo g ie , llu s s e r lia n a V I, B e ila g e III, “U r s p r u n g der
X j& o m e tr ie ," e d . W . B ie m e l ( T h e H a g u e : N ij h o f f , I s t e d . 1 9 5 4 , 2 n d e d . 1 9 6 2 ), 3 6 9 —
3 7 0 ; T h e C r is is o f E u r o p e a n S c ie n c e s a n d T r a n s c e n d e n ta l P h e n o m e n o lo g y , A p p e n d ix
1JÖ L A U K W O K -Y IN G
c o n c e r n e d . L ik e w is e , f o r M e r le a u - P o n ty la n g u a g e p la y s a n e s s e n tia l r o le in
th e p e r c e p tio n o f o th e r s a n d th u s in th e e d if ic a tio n o f th e in te r s u b je c tiv e
w o rld and Ih e c u ltu ra l w o rld . The a u th o r o f th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y of
P e r c e p tio n d r a w s o u r a t t e n t i o n to th e f a c t t h a t in th e e x p e r i e n c e o f d ia lo g u e ,
t h e p r e s e n c e o f th e O t h e r is ir r e f u ta b le . D u r i n g t h e d ia lo g u e ,
th e r e is c o n s titu te d b e tw e e n th e O th e r a n d m y s e l f a c o m m o n g r o u n d ; m y
t h o u g h t a n d h is a r e in te r w o v e n in to a s in g le f a b r ic , m y w o r d s a n d th o s e
o f m y i n te r lo c u to r a r e c a lle d f o r th b y th e s ta te o f d is c u s s io n , a n d th e y
a r e in s e r te d in to a s h a r e d o p e r a tio n o f w h ic h n e ith e r o f u s is th e c r e a to r.
I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n t h e r e is a d u a l b e i n g {u n ê tr e à d e u x ) , a n d th e O t h e r h e r e
is f o r m e n o l o n g e r a s i m p l e b e h a v i o u r i n m y t r a n s c e n d e n t a l f i e l d , n o r I
in h is n e ith e r; we a re c o lla b o ra to rs one fo r th e o th e r in a p e rfe c t
re c ip ro c ity , our p e rs p e c tiv e s m e rg e one in to th e o th e r, we c o -e x is t
th r o u g h a s a m e w o r ld .6
O n e m a y o b je c t th a t w h a t M e r le a u - P o n ty d e s c r ib e s is o n ly a p a r tic u la r ly
s u c c e s s f u l c a s e o f h u m a n d i a l o g u e . I n e v e r y d a y r e a l i t y , c o m m u n i c a t i o n is
n e v e r p e r f e c t a n d t h e r e is a lw a y s p o s s ib ility o f m is u n d e r s ta n d in g . W h e n I a m
fa c e d w ith s o m e o n e w h o s p e a k s a fo re ig n la n g u a g e th a t I d o n o t sp e a k , n o
d i a l o g u e is p o s s i b l e . A n d e v e n w h e n t w o p e r s o n s d e b a t i n g o n a s u b j e c t s p e a k
th e s a m e la n g u a g e , th e ir re s p e c tiv e p o s itio n s c a n b e so fa r a w a y fro m o n e
a n o t h e r t h a t t h e y a r e i n a d i a l o g u e o f t h e d e a f ( t h e F r e n c h s a y : “u n d i a l o g u e
d e s o u r d s ”) . B u t a l l t h e s e e x a m p l e s h a v e a c o m m o n b a s i s : e x c h a n g e o f w o r d s .
O n c e e n g a g e d i n th is e x c h a n g e , I c a n a tte s t to th e f a c t th a t t h e w o r d s th a t I
h e a r d a im a t s o m e m e a n in g . T h is m e a n in g m a y b e o b s c u r e to m e . B u t I c a n
n e v e r th e le s s b e s u r e t h a t i t c o m e s f r o m a s p e a k in g s u b je c t. A n d I c a n v e r y
w e ll d is tin g u is h b e tw e e n th e v o ic e e m itte d fro m a s p e a k in g ro b o t and a
h u m a n v o ic e , e v e n i f th e tw o v o ic e s a re tra n s m itte d b y a lo u d s p e a k e r. In
l i s t e n i n g t o a h u m a n v o i c e , w e s a y a t o n c e : “ t h e r e is s o m e b o d y , ” e v e n t h o u g h
th e p e r s o n in q u e s tio n m a y n o t n e c e s s a r ily b e p r e s e n t in o u r v is u a l fie ld . A ll
th is c o n f ir m s th e p r iv ile g e d r o le p la y e d b y la n g u a g e i n t h e e v id e n c e o f th e
e x is te n c e o f o th e r s a n d o u r c o - e x is te n c e in th e s a m e s o c io - c u ltu r a l w o r ld .
1.5 The Problem of the Other does not exhaust the entire
Problem of the Cultural World
H o w e v e r , is l a n g u a g e n o t i t s e l f a c u l t u r a l o b j e c t ? I f t h e c u l t u r a l w o r l d
p re s u p p o s e s th e e x is te n c e o f o th e rs o n th e o n e h a n d , a n d th e p e rc e p tio n o f th e
O t h e r i n t h e d i a l o g u e p r e s u p p o s e s l a n g u a g e a s c u l t u r a l o b j e c t o n t h e o t h e r , is
V I , “T h e O r ig in o f G e o m e tr y ,” t r a n s . D . C a r r ( E v a n s to n : N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y P r .,
1 9 7 0 ), 3 5 7 - 3 5 9 .
6 PhP, 407; PP, 354.
IN T E R S U B J E C T IV IT Y A N D P H E N O M E N O L O G Y O F T H E O T H E R 139
th e r e n o t a c ir c u la r ity o f th e p r o b le m ? F o r M e r le a u - P o n ty th e k e y to th e
p ro b le m of th e c u ltu r a l w o rld c o n s is ts p re c is e ly in th e f o llo w in g : to
u n d e r s ta n d h o w s o m e th in g p e r c e iv e d in s p a c e , b e i t h is to r ic a l v e s tig e s o r th e
b o d y o f t h e O t h e r , is n o t s i m p l y p e r c e i v e d a s s o m e s t il l a n d d e a d o b je c t ( th e
F r e n c h s a y : “l a n a t u r e m o r t e " ) , b u t a s b e a r e r o f a c e r t a i n s e n s e s u c h t h a t i t
b e c o m e s “ th e s p e a k in g tr a c e ” o f s o m e in d iv id u a l o r c o lle c tiv e e x is te n c e (a n d
t h e f o r m e r is n e c e s s a r i l y l i n k e d i n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r to th e la tt e r ) . I n v e r s e ly
w e h a v e to u n d e r s ta n d h o w “ a n in te n tio n , a t h o u g h t o r a p r o je c t c a n d e ta c h
th e m s e lv e s f r o m th e p e r s o n a l s u b je c t a n d b e c o m e v is ib le o u ts id e h im in h is
b o d y , in th e e n v ir o n m e n t w h ic h h e b u ild s f o r h im s e lf .” 7 T h e c la r if ic a tio n o f
th e c u ltu r a l w o r ld r e q u ir e s th e p r e lim in a r y c la r if ic a tio n o f th e in te r s u b je c tiv e
w o r ld . H o w e v e r , i f th e la tte r s h o u ld o p e n o n to th e s o c ia l w o r ld , it s h o u ld n o t
b e r e d u c e d to “ a n e x is te n c e in v o lv in g tw o o r e v e n th r e e p e o p le ,” b u t r a th e r
b e “ t h e c o - e x i s t e n c e o f a n i n d e f i n i t e n u m b e r o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s .” 8 T h a t is w h y
f o r M e r le a u - P o n ty , th e c o n s titu tio n o f th e O th e r d o e s n o t s o lv e b y i t s e l f th e
e n tire p r o b le m o f th e c o n s titu tio n o f th e c u ltu ra l w o rld . B y w ay o f h is
c o n c e p tio n o f th e b o d y p r o p e r a s s u b je c t d e s tin e d to th e w o r ld (s u je t v o u é a u
m o n d e ) ,9 M e r le a u - P o n ty c o n te n ts h i m s e l f w ith p r o v i d i n g m e r e ly , a s h e s a y s
w it h m o d e s ty in th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n , “ a b e g in n in g o f th e
s o l u t i o n ” t o t h i s p r o b l e m . 10
1.6 1Merleau-Ponty has combined the merits of both Husserl and

Heidegger but avoided their shortcomings
I n t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e O t h e r , t h e w a y M e r l e a u - P o n t y ’s
a p p r o a c h d if f e r s f r o m th o s e o f H u s s e r l a n d H e id e g g e r c o n s is ts p r e c is e ly in
th e im p o r ta n c e a c c o r d e d b y th e a u th o r o f th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n
to th e r o le p la y e d by c o r p o r e ity . N ot o n ly does th e O th e r p r e s e n ts
h e rs e lf/h im s e lf n e c e s s a rily b y h e r/h is o w n b o d y , b u t la n g u a g e , th e p riv ile g e d
c u ltu r a l o b je c t t h r o u g h w h ic h th e e x is te n c e o f th e O th e r is a n ir r e f u ta b le
e v i d e n c e f o r m e , is a t f i r s t u n d e r s t o o d a s l i n g u i s t i c g e s tu r e , i.e . a s e x p r e s s i o n
of th e body p ro p e r in th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p t i o n , 11 a n d as
“anonym ous c o rp o re ity w h ic h I s h a re w ith o th e r o rg a n is m s ” in M e rle a u -
P o n t y ’ s l a t e r w r i t i n g s . 12
F o r H u s s e r l, o th e r s a lw a y s c o - e x is t a lr e a d y w ith m e in th e e m p ir ic a l
re a lity o f e v e ry d a y lif e . T h e e m p ir ic a l fie ld , i.e . th e w o r ld in th e n a tu r a l
7 PhP, 401; PP, 349.

8 I b id .
9 P h P , v ; P P , x i.
10 P h P , 4 0 1 ; P P , 3 4 9 .
11 P h P , 2 0 9 ; P P , 1 79.
12 M . M e r l e a u - P o n t y , L a p r o s e d u m o n d e ( P M h e r e a f te r ) ( P a r is : G a llim a r d ,
1 9 6 9 ) , 1 9 5 ; T h e P r o s e o f th e W o r ld (P W h e r e a f te r ) , t r a n s . J . O ’N e i l l ( E v a n s to n :
N o r th w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y P r ., 1 9 7 3 ), 1 40.
a t t i t u d e i s a l w a y s a l r e a d y a n i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e w o r l d . 13 T h e q u e s t i o n a t s t a k e i s
to sh o w th a t th e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a lly re d u c ed f ie ld , b e in g th e fie ld of
tr a n s c e n d e n ta l s u b je c tiv ity in th e f ir s t p la c e , is a ls o th e f ie ld o f tr a n s c e n d e n ta l
in te r s u b je c tiv ity , th a t tr a n s c e n d e n ta l p h e n o m e n o lo g y , in th e te r m s o f th e
C a r te s ia n M e d ita tio n s , s h o u ld not be “ b ra n d e d as tra n s c e n d e n ta l
s o l i p s i s m . ” 14 H u s s e r l ’s e f f o r t i n t h e F i f t h o f t h e s e c e l e b r a t e d m e d i t a t i o n s i s
g e n e ra lly re c o g n iz e d a s th e m o s t e la b o ra te d e ffo rt u n d e rta k e n b y th e m a s te r
o f F r e ib u r g to c o n s titu te th e O th e r a s a lte r e g o w ith in th e f r a m e w o r k o f
m o n a d ic tra n s c e n d e n ta l e g o lo g y e s ta b lis h e d p re lim in a rily in th e F o u r th
M e d i t a t i o n . I n H u s s e r l ’s o w n t e r m s , t h i s i n v o l v e s t h e t a s k t o “ b r i n g i n t o
e v id e n c e in w h a t in te n tio n a litie s , in w h a t s y n th e s e s , in w h a t m o tiv a tio n s th e
s e n s e o f a lte r e g o c o m e s to b e f o r m e d in m e a n d , h o w , u n d e r v a r io u s title s , a
c o n c o rd a n t e x p e rie n c e o f s o m e o th e r p ro v e s h e rs e lf/h im s e lf a s e x is tin g a n d
e v e n a s e x is tin g h e rs e lf/h im s e lf th e re in h e r / h i s o w n m a n n e r . ” 15 H o w e v e r ,
t h i s l a b o r i o u s e f f o r t is a l s o g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i z e d a s u n s u c c e s s f u l b y m a n y
r e m a r k a b l e c o m m e n t a t o r s . 16 G i v e n t h e l i m i t e d s c o p e o f t h e p r e s e n t w o r k , w e
a r e u n a b le to g o in to th e d e ta ils o f t h e r e la te d c r itic a l d is c u s s io n s . T o p r e s e n t
o u r o w n v ie w in a s c h e m a tic w a y , w e w o u ld s a y th a t th e e s s e n tia l r e a s o n fo r
th e fa ilu re o f H u s s e r l ’s a tte m p t lie s n o t o n ly in th e lo g ic a l b u t a ls o th e
p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l i m p o s s i b i l i t y to c o n c e i v e th e O t h e r a s a n a lte r e g o w h o is
a t t h e s a m e tim e a c o n s titu tin g s u b je c t a n d a c o n s titu te d o b je c t, a n a lte r e g o
w ho is t h e a b s o lu te o r ig in o f a ll c o n s titu tio n b u t a t th e s a m e tim e a t th e
a n tip o d e o f th is o r ig in . T h e im p o s s ib ility to m a in ta in tw o a b s o lu te p o le s o f
13 Edm und H u s s e r l, Ide en zu e in e r r e in e n P h ä n o m e n o lo g ie und

p h ä n o m e n o lo g is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie , Z w e ite s B u ch : P h ä n o m e n o lo g is c h e
U n te r s u c h u n g e n z w K o n s titu tio n , llu s s e r lia n a , B a n d IV (I-Iua I V h e r e a f te r ) ( T h e
H a g u e : N i j h o f f , 1 9 5 2 ), 7 9 - 8 4 ; I d e a s P e r ta in in g to a P u r e P h e n o m e n o lo g y a n d to a
P h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l P h ilo s o p h y , S e c o n d B o o k , S tu d ie s in th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f
C o n s titu tio n (I d e a s 11 h e r e a f te r ) , Ira n s . R . R o j c e w i c z a n d A . S c h u w e r ( D o r d r e c h t:
K l u w e r A c a d e m i c P u b lis h e r s , 1 9 8 9 ) , 8 3 - 8 9 .
14 E d m u n d H u s s e r l, C a r te s ia n is c h e M e d ita tio n e n und P a r is e r V o rträ g e ,
H u s s e r lia n a , B a n d I ( H u a I h e r e a f te r ) ( T h e H a g u e : N ijh o f f , 1 9 5 0 ), 1 2 1 ; C a r te s ia n
M e d ita tio n s ( C A Y h e re a fte r), tr a n s . D . C a ir n s ( T h e H a g u e : N ijh o f f , 1 9 7 3 ), 8 9 .
15 H u a i , 1 2 2 ; C M , 9 0 .
16 A m o n g th e m o s t p e n e t r a t i n g c r i ti c a l d i s c u s s i o n s , c f. A lf r e d S c h u tz , “ L e
p r o b l è m e d e r i n t e r s u b j c c l i v i t é t r a n s c e n d a n t a l e c h e z H u s s e r l, " in H u sse rl. C a h ie r s d e
R oyaum ont ( P a r is : M in u it, 1 9 5 9 ), 3 3 4 -3 5 6 ; E ng. v e r s io n "T he P r o b le m of
T r a n s c e n d e n t a l I n t e r s u b j e c t iv i ty in H u s s e r l, ” in A lf r e d S c h u t z , C o lle c te d P a p e r s III,
S tu d ie s in P h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l P h ilo s o p h y , c d . 1. S c h u t z ( T h e H a g u e : N i j h o f f , 1 9 6 6 ),
5 1 - 8 4 ; P a u l R ic o c u r , “ L a C i n q u i è m e M é d i t a t i o n C a r t é s i e n n e ,” in A l'é c o le d e la
p h é n o m é n o lo g ie ( P a r is : V r in , 1 9 8 6 ), 1 9 7 -2 2 5 ; Eng. v e r s io n “ H u s s e r l 's F ifth
C a r te s ia n M e d i t a t i o n , ” in P a u l R i c o e u r , H u sse rl. A n A n a ly s is o f H is P h e n o m e n o lo g y
( E v a n s to n : N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i ty P r e s s , 1 9 6 7 ), 1 1 5 - 1 4 2 ; J c a n - T o u s s a i n t D e s a n ti,
I n tr o d u c tio n à la p h é n o m é n o lo g ie ( P a r i s : G a l li m a r d , n e w e d itio n 1 9 9 4 ), 1 1 5 - 1 5 0 .
IN T E R S U B JE C T IV IT Y A N D P H E N O M E N O L O G Y O F T H E O T H E R 141
c o n s titu tio n w ith in th e c g o lo g ic a l im m a n e n c e r e s u lts in th e im p o s s ib ility o f

E in fü h lu n g (re n d e re d u s u a lly as “ e m p a th y ” ) in th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l fie ld
s e c u r e d b y th e p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l r e d u c tio n .
H e i d e g g e r ’s a p p r o a c h i n S e i n u n d Z e i t i s o p p o s i t e t o t h a t o f H u s s e r l .
E in fü h lu n g is n o t th e b a s is o f th e c o n s titu tio n o f th e O th e r . O n th e c o n tr a r y ,
f o r t h e s u c c e s s o r o f H u s s e r l i n F r e i b u r g , “ D a s e i n , a s b e i n g - i n - t h e - w o r l d , is
a l r e a d y w i t h O t h e r s . ‘E i n f ü h l u n g ’ d o e s n o t f i r s t c o n s t i t u t e b e i n g - w i t h ; b u t
o n ly o n th e b a s is o f b e in g -w ith d o es 'E i n f ü h l u n g ' b e c o m e p o s s i b l e : i t i s
m o tiv a te d in its in d is p e n s a b le n e c e s s ity b y th e d o m in a n t d e f ic ie n t m o d e o f
b e i n g - w i t h . ” 17 D a s e i n ’s b e i n g - w i t h i s a n e x i s t e n t i a l c o n s t i t u e n t o f b e i n g - i n -
t h e - w o r l d . I t i s t h i s m o d e o f b e i n g w h i c h r e n d e r s p o s s i b l e D a s e i n ’s e n c o u n t e r
w i t h o t h e r D a s e in a n d a ll b e i n g s w it h i n - t h e - w o r l d . T h a t is w h y D a s e in is
a lw a y s a lr e a d y a b e in g - w ith - o n e - a n o th e r , a m o d e o f b e in g w h ic h “ c a n n o t b e
c o n c e iv e d as a s u m m a tiv e re s u lt of th e c o m in g to g e th e r of se v e ra l
‘s u b j e c t s ’ . ” 18 I n t h e l e c t u r e c o u r s e d e l i v e r e d a y e a r a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f
S e in und Z e it, D ie G r u n d p r o b le m e der P h ä n o m e n o lo g ie ( The B a s ic
P r o b le m s o f P h e n o m e n o lo g y ) , H e i d e g g e r is m o r e e x p l ic it :
T h e D a s e in is n o t a t f i r s t m e r e l y a b e i n g - w i t h o th e r s s o a s t h e r e u p o n to
em e rg e fro m th is b e in g - w ith - o n e - a n o th e r in to a n o b j e c t i v e w o r l d , to
èom e o u t to th in g s . T h is a p p ro a c h w o u ld b e ju s t a s u n s u c c e s s fu l as
s u b je c tiv e id e a lis m , w h ic h s ta r ts f ir s t w ith a s u b je c t, w h ic h th e n in s o m e
m a n n e r s u p p lie s a n o b je c t fo r its e lf . T o s ta r t w it h a n I - th o u r e la tio n s h ip
a s a r e la tio n s h ip o f tw o s u b je c ts w o u ld e n ta il th a t a t f ir s t t h e r e a r e tw o
s u b je c ts , ta k e n s im p ly a s tw o , w h ic h th e n p r o v id e a r e la tio n to o th e r s .
R a t h e r , .. .D a s e in is w i t h e q u a l o r i g i n a l i t y b e i n g - w i t h o th e r s a n d b e i n g -
a m o n g in tr a w o r ld ly b e in g s . T h e w o r ld , w ith in w h ic h th e s e la tte r b e in g s
a re e n c o u n te r e d , is — b e c a u s e e v e r y D a s e in is o f its o w n s e l f e x is te n t
b e in g - w ith o th e r s — a lw a y s a lr e a d y w o r ld w h ic h th e o n e s h a r e s w ith th e
o t h e r s . 19
I n s h o r t, th e w o r ld is p a r t o f th e o n to lo g ic a l c o n s titu tio n o f D a s e in , in
s u c h a w a y th a t th e s e l f o f D a s e in a n d th e w o r ld to g e th e r c o n s titu te th e
s tru c tu ra l u n ity o f b e in g -in -th e -w o rld w h ic h is “th e b a s ic c o n d itio n of
p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e s e l f s b e i n g a p o s s i b l e t h o u i n b e i n g - w i t h o t h e r s . ” 20
17 M a r t i n H e i d e g g e r , S e in u n d Z e it ( S Z h e r e a f t e r ) ( T u b in g e n : M a x N i e m e y e r
V e r la g , 1 5 th e d ., 1 9 7 9 ) , 1 2 5 ; B e in g a n d T im e [ B T h e r e a f t e r ) , t r a n s . J . M a c q u a r r i e & E .
R o b in s o n (N e w Y o rk : S C M P r „ 1 9 6 2 ), 162.
18 S Z , 1 2 5 ; B T , 1 6 3 .
19 M a r t in H e i d e g g e r , D ie G r u n d p r o b le m e d e r P h ä n o m e n o lo g ie , G e s a m ta u s g a b e
B a n d 2 4 {G A 2 4 h e r e a f te r ) ( F r a n k f u r t: K l o s t e r m a n n , 1 9 7 5 ), 4 2 1 ; T h e B a s ic P r o b le m s
o f P h e n o m e n o lo g y {B P P h e r e a f t e r ) , tr a n s . A . H o f s t a d t e r ( B l o o m i n g t o n & I n d ia n a p o lis :
I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 , r e v i s e d e d . 1 9 8 8 ), 2 9 6 - 2 9 7 .
20 G A 2 4 , 4 2 2 ; B P P , 2 9 7 - 2 9 8 .
142 L A Ü K W O K -Y IN G
H o w e v e r , H e id e g g e r m a k e s c le a r in th e s e c o n d p a r t o f S e in u n d Z e it th a t
t h i s m o d e o f b e i n g o f D a s e in a s b e i n g - w i t h o t h e r s i s o n l y a m o d e o f t h e
e v e r y d a y D a s e i n , i .e . t h e “ o n e " o r “ t h e y ” ( d a s “ m a n ” ) o f D a s e in in th e
i n a u t h e n t i c m o d e . W h e n D a s e i n c o m e s b a c k t o i t s “ a u t h e n t i c s e l f h o o d , ” i t is
“ in o rig in a l i s o l a t i o n . ” 21 D a s e i n in its a u th e n tic m ode w o u ld even be
d e p riv e d o f th e u se o f la n g u a g e , s in c e c o m m u n ic a tio n in speech in th e
e v e r y d a y w o r ld , u n d e r s to o d a s id le ta lk , is a lr e a d y th e s ig n o f f a ll.” T h e
a u th e n tic D a s e in , a t th e s a m e tim e a s it a s s is ts a t th e d e c o m p o s itio n o f th e
w o r l d h o o d o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l w o r l d , is i n a s t a t e o f e x i s t e n t i a l s o l i p s i s m . 23
Seen fro m th e above d is c u s s io n , th e o rig in a lity of M e rle a u -P o n ty
c o n s is ts p r e c is e ly in c o m b in in g th e m e r its o f b o th H u s s e r l a n d H e id e g g e r
w h ile a v o id in g each o n e ’s s h o r t c o m i n g s in th e a n a ly s is o f th e O th e r. In
r e f u s i n g H u s s e r l ’s t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k o f m o n a d i c t r a n s c e n d e n t a l e g o l o g y ,
M e r le a u - P o n ty h a s r e ta in e d fr o m th e a u th o r o f th e C a r te s ia n M e d ita tio n s th e
p h e n o m e n o n o f p a ir in g ( P a a r u n g ) a s th e k e y to t h e c o n s titu tio n o f th e O th e r.
T o r e c o g n iz e th e p h e n o m e n o n o f p a ir in g a s p la y in g t h e c e n tr a l r o le in th e
p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r is e q u iv a le n t to ta k in g c o r p o r e ity a s its p iv o t. A t th e
s a m e tim e , in a c c e p tin g to u n d e r s ta n d th e s u b je c t a s b e in g - in - th e - w o r ld a f te r
H e id e g g e r, M e rle a u -P o n ty a v o id s e n c lo s in g th e s u b je c t in e g o lo g ic a l
i m m a n e n c e i n t h e w a y H u s s e r l h a s d o n e i n t h e F i f t h C a r t e s i a n M e d it a ti o n .
H o w e v e r , in d is tin c tio n to H e id e g g e r , M e r le a u - P o n ty d o e s n o t a c c e p t th e
r a d ic a l d ic h o to m y b e tw e e n th e a u th e n tic a n d th e in a u th e n tic m o d e s o f s u b je c t,
t h e d i c h o t o m y w h i c h i s a t t h e o r i g i n o f e x i s t e n t i a l s o l i p s i s m i n S e i n u n d Z e it .
1.7. There are Two Levels of Intersubjectivity
I f M e r le a u - P o n ty s h a r e s w it h H e id e g g e r th e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e “ o n e ”
( t h e “ O n " i n F r e n c h o r t h e “m a n " i n G e r m a n ) a s a n o n y m o u s s u b j e c t , h e n e v e r
c o n s i d e r s i t a s t h e s i g n o f i n a u t h e n t i c i t y . C o n t r a r y t o t h e a u t h o r o f S e in u n d
Z e it , t h e “O n " f o r M e r l e a u - P o n t y i s r a t h e r e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e f a c t i c i t y o f t h e
h u m a n s u b j e c t . H e e v e n e n v i s a g e s a n “o n " “ w h o h a s i t s o w n a u t h e n t i c i t y , ” 24
t h a t is “ a p r i m o r d i a l o n e [ O n ] t h a t . . . n e v e r c e a s e s b u t c o n t i n u e s t o u p h o l d t h e
g r e a t e s t p a s s i o n s o f o u r a d u l t l i f e a n d t o b e e x p e r i e n c e d a n e w in e a c h o f o u r
21 S Z , 3 2 2 ; B T , 3 6 9 .
22 S Z , 1 6 8 ; B T , 2 1 2 .
23 S Z , 1 8 8 ; B T , 2 3 3 .
24 I n h e r c r it ic a l s tu d y o n t h e e x i s t e n t ia l p h il o s o p h y o f H e i d e g g e r , E d i t h S te in ,
H u s s e r l e a r l i e s t a s s i s t a n t , t h i n k s t h a t th e “ o n e ” ( “m a n " in G e r m a n ) , w h i c h s ig n i f i e s a
c o m m u n ity a n d t h e s o c ia l lif e , c a n h a v e a n a u t h e n t i c m o d e : “ I n f a c t, t h e o n e a n d th e
o th e r , s o c i a l li f e a s w e l l a s s o l i t a r y lif e , h a v e t h e ir a u t h e n t i c f o r m a n d t h e ir d e g r a d e d
f o r m .” P h é n o m é n o lo g ie e t p h ilo s o p h ie c h r é tie n n e , F r e n c h t r a n s . P h , S e c r e t a n ( P a r is :
C e r f , 1 9 8 7 ), 1 0 7 . S h e a ls o r e f u s e s th e r a d ic a l d i c h o t o m y m a d e b y H e i d e g g e r b e t w e e n
th e “m a n ” a n d t h e a u th e n tic s e l f h o o d ( ib id ., 9 2 - 9 3 ) .
p e r c e p t i o n s . ” 25 I n e x p r e s s i n g t h e c h a r a c t e r o f g e n e r a l i t y a n d a n o n y m i t y o f t h e
s u b je c t, th e “ O n ” d e s ig n a te s o u r c o m m o n b e lo n g in g n o t o n ly to a p r im o r d ia l
N a tu r e , b u t to a c o m m o n s o c io - c u ltu r a l w o r ld a n d a s h a r e d h is to r y to o . T h e
“ O n ” is t h e n th e e x p r e s s i o n o f i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y a t t h e p r i m a r y l e v e l p r i o r to
t h e d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n th e I, th e f ir s t p e r s o n s u b je c t, a n d th e O th e r. T h e
s y n c r e tic s o c ia b ility in th e f ir s t p h a s e o f in f a n tile e x is te n c e is th e e m in e n t
e x a m p le o f th is le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity w h e r e th e in d iv id u a l c o n s c io u s n e s s
is s t i l l u n a w a r e o f i t s e l f , w h e r e t h e c h i l d li v e s r a t h e r a k in d o f i n t e r c o r p o r e i t y
( W e w ill r e tu r n to th is p o i n t in g r e a te r d e ta il in a la te r s e c tio n ) .
I t is in a la te r s ta g e o f d e v e lo p m e n t th a t th e ego a r is e s , w ith th e
c o n s c io u s n e s s o f t h e in d e c lin a b le s u b je c t. A t th is m o m e n t, th e s u b je c t c o m e s
o u t o f a n o n y m ity . B u t a t th e s a m e tim e , th e s u b je c t e x p e r ie n c e s th e O th e r b y
t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e b o d y p r o p e r o f s o m e O t h e r ’s c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e b o d y
p r o p e r o f th e O th e r , lik e m y o w n b o d y p r o p e r , is n o t a b o d y - th in g b u t a
b o d y -s u b je c t; it is because th e la tte r in c a rn a te s a s y s te m o f k in e s th e tic
p o s s ib ilitie s and is th e z e ro p o in t of o rie n ta tio n of th is sy ste m . The
e x p e rie n c e o f th e O th e r’s body p ro p e r is ir r e f u ta b le ; it is th e b a s is of
in te r s u b je c tiv ity o f th e s e c o n d le v e l a n d is p r e s u p p o s e d b y th e h a b itu a l s o c io
c u ltu ra l w o rld o f a d u lts . I t is f r o m th is second le v e l o f in te rs u b je c tiv ity ,
is o la te d fro m th e fir s t, th a t a p h ilo s o p h y o f p u r e im m a n e n c e c o n s tr u c ts a
s o lip s is t p h ilo s o p h y in n e g le c tin g th e v e r y b a s ic f a c t th a t a s u b je c t b e lo n g s
n e c e s s a r ily to a c o m m o n s o c io - c u ltu r a l a n d h is to r ic a l w o r ld .
H u s s e r l ’s t r a n s c e n d e n t a l p h e n o m e n o l o g y c o n t a i n s a n i d e a l i s t a s p e c t i n s o
f a r a s it m a n if e s ts f r o m tim e to tim e th e te m p ta tio n to c o n d u c t a ll e x p lic a tio n
o f sense o f b e in g back to th e tra n s c e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s as a b s o lu te
su b je c tiv ity . B ut w hat d is tin g u is h e s it fro m tra d itio n a l tr a n s c e n d e n ta l
p h ilo s o p h y , f o r e x a m p le K a n tia n c r itic a l p h ilo s o p h y , is th a t it s ta r ts fr o m th e
p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e m e d i t a t i v e e g o is a l w a y s a l r e a d y i n h e r e n t
in a n in d iv id u a l s u b je c t. T h e t r a n s c e n d e n ta l e g o lo g y o f H u s s e r l is o b lig e d to
c o n f r o n t th e p r o b le m o f t h e O th e r , a n d w h o s e ir r e f u ta b le e x p e r ie n c e im p o s e s
a: m o r e r a d i c a l a w a r e n e s s f r o m t h e p a r t o f t h e f a t h e r o f t h e p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l
m o v e m e n t. D r iv e n b y h is c a r e o f m e th o d o lo g ic a l v ig o u r , H u s s e r l w a s le a d to
r e in s e r t th e s u b je c t in to th e p r im o r d ia l w o r ld w h ic h h e w a n te d to r e d u c e in
th e f ir s t in s ta n c e . T h e r a d ic a lis m o f H u s s e r l ’s p h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l a p p r o a c h
r e q u i r e s t h e t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e s e n o n - r e d u c e d e l e m e n t s , a n d i t is
th is ra d ic a lis m w h ic h u ltim a te ly c o n trib u te s to b re a c h in g re s o lu te ly th e
f r a m e w o r k o f m o n a d ic tr a n s c e n d e n ta l e g o lo g y in its a c c e s s to th e p r o b le m o f
th e O th e r . T h is is p r e c is e ly o n e o f th e g r e a t m e r its o f th e e g o lo g ic a l a p p r o a c h
o f H u s s e r l. O n th e c o n tr a r y , K a n tia n c r itic a l p h ilo s o p h y n e v e r c o n s id e r s th e
b a s ic f a c t th a t th e m e d ita tiv e s u b je c t is a s u b je c t d e s tin e d to th e w o r ld . T h e
25 M . M e r l e a u - P o n t y , S ig n e s (S i h e r e a f te r ) ( P a r is : G a llim a r d , 1 9 6 0 ), 2 2 1 ; S ig n s
( t h e r e a f t e r ) , tr a n s . R . C . M c C l e a r y ( E v a n s to n : N o r th w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 4 ),
175.
tr a n s c e n d e n ta l a p p e r c e p tio n in K a n t is a p u r e ly f o r m a l p o le o f u n ity w h ic h
o v e rh a n g s w ith tra n q u illity th e w o rld as if it w e re a p u re s p e c ta c le .
C o m m e n tin g o n th e K a n tia n a p p r o a c h , M e r le a u - P o n ty s a y s , “ T h is is w h y th e
p r o b l e m o f t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e O t h e r is n e v e r p o s e d i n K a n t i a n p h i l o s o p h y :
th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l e g o w h ic h it d is c u s s e s is j u s t a s m u c h th e O th e r ’ s a s m in e ,
t h e a n a ly s is is f r o m th e s ta r t p la c e d o u ts id e m e , a n d h a s n o th in g to d o b u t to
e x tr a c t th e g e n e ra l c o n d itio n s w h ic h re n d e r p o s s ib le a w o r ld fo r a n e g o —
m y s e l f o r o t h e r s e q u a l l y — a n d n e v e r c o m e s u p a g a i n s t t h e q u e s t i o n : w h o is
m e d i t a t i n g ? ” 26 F o r M e r l e a u - P o n t y , t h i s a p p r o a c h i s u n a c c e p t a b l e b e c a u s e i t
f o r g e ts its a n c h o r a g e in th e w o r ld b y v ir tu e o f its b o d ily e x is te n c e b u t s e ttle s
a t th e a ltitu d e o f th e u n iv e r s a l tr a n s c e n d e n ta l s u b je c t r ig h t f r o m th e b e g in n in g
w ith o u t a s k in g how it c a n a rriv e a t th a t p o in t. T h e d is tin c tio n m ade by
H u s s e r l b e tw e e n th e n a tu ra l a ttitu d e a n d th e tra n s c e n d e n ta l a ttitu d e s h o w s
p re c is e ly th a t th e r e is a p ro b le m o f th e b e c o m in g o f th e tra n s c e n d e n ta l
s u b j e c t . H u s s e r l ’s e f f o r t t o c o n s t i t u t e t r a n s c e n d e n t a l i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y g i v e s
th e b e s t e v id e n c e o f th e n e c e s s ity to u n d e r s ta n d h o w a n in d iv id u a l s u b je c t,
a r is in g f r o m th e te r r a in o f n a tu r a l e x p e r ie n c e to th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l f ie ld , c a n
b e a s s u r e d th a t th is la tte r f ie ld is n o t s o lip s is t b u t in te r s u b je c tiv e , a n d is th u s
a b le to g u a ra n te e th e o b je c tiv ity and u n iv e rs a lity of a ll tr a n s c e n d e n ta l
o p e r a tio n (L e is tu n g ). I t p o in ts to w a r d s th e ta s k o f g e n e tic p h e n o m e n o lo g y ,
a n d M e r le a u - P o n ty ’s d is tin c tio n o f tw o le v e ls o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity is p r e c is e ly
a m a s te r p ie c e o f th is s o rt.
2. Merleau-Ponty’s Two Levels of Intersubjectivity
2.1. No Single Subjectivity has the Privilege of the Actual

Possession of the whole World
W e h a v e s a id e a r lie r th a t in h is a n a ly s is o f th e p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r ,
M e rle a u -P o n ty h a s u n ite d th e m e rits o f b o th H u sse rl an d H e id e g g e r b u t
a v o id e d th e ir s h o rtc o m in g s . L et us re tu rn to H u s s e r l ’s F i f t h C a r t e s ia n
M e d ita tio n f o r a s h o r t w h ile . T h e r e s u lts o f th is m e d ita tio n s h o w th a t th e
O th e r is p e r c e p tib le b y m e o n ly b y w a y o f its c a r n a l p r e s e n c e : th e b o d ily
p r e s e n c e o f th e O t h e r is i r r e d u c i b l e to m y p r i m o r d i a l s p h e r e o f o w n n e s s a s
th e fie ld o f im m a n e n c e . W e h a v e th e n to re c o g n iz e th a t th e O th e r , lik e
m y s e lf , is a ls o a s u b je c t d e s tin e d to th e w o r ld . B u t i f th e a lte r e g o is a k in d o f
o rig in a l a b s e n c e fo r m e , h o w c a n I g e t rid o f th e p rio rity o f m y p ro p e r eg o
c o g it o i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e e g o c o g i t o o f t h e O t h e r ? H o w t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h i s
b o d y in f r o n t o f m e is n o t s im p ly a c o r p o r e a l th in g b u t r e a lly th e b o d y p r o p e r
o f a n o th e r p e rs o n ?
26 P h P , 7 5 ; P P . 6 2 .
For M e rle a u -P o n ty , we have to re ta in th e im p o r ta n c e of th e

p h e n o m e n o n o f p a ir in g in th e p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r a s s h o w n b y H u s s e r l.
T h e p h e n o m e n o n o f p a ir in g is th e s im p le b u t p r in c ip a l f a c t o f in c a r n a tio n . A s
b e in g - in - th e - w o r ld I a m n e v e r a tr a n s p a r e n t c o n s c io u s n e s s , m y s u b je c tiv ity
a lw a y s d ra g s b e h in d its e lf a body: m y body p r o p e r . 27 I t is under th is
c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e b o d y o f t h e O t h e r is n o t r e d u c e d t o a m e r e o b j e c t f o r m e ,
a n d n e ith e r m y b o d y a m e r e o b je c t fo r h e r /h im . T h e tw o b o d ie s a re b o th
b e h a v io u r s a s b e a r e r s o f s e n s e . A s b e in g - in - th e - w o r ld in s te a d o f a m e re th in g
w ith in th e w o r ld , th e tw o b o d ie s a re in e q u a l p o s itio n .
T h e p e r c e p tu a l s u b je c t a p p r o a c h e s a th in g o f th e w o r ld b y a d e te r m in a te
p e r s p e c t i v e . T h e p e r c e i v e d t h i n g is a l w a y s s i t u a t e d w i t h i n a w h o l e s e t o f
th in g s to w h ic h it b e lo n g s . N o t o n ly a p a r tic u la r a s p e c t o f t h e th in g p e r c e iv e d
is r e f e r r e d t o o th e r p e rc e p tib le a s p e c ts o f th e sam e th in g in its te m p o r a l
u n f o ld in g , it is a ls o r e f e r r e d to o th e r th in g s w h ic h f o r m w ith it a s tr u c tu r a l
w h o le in th e e n v ir o n m e n t, s u c h th a t i f th e r e is a r a d ic a lly is o la te d p e r c e p tio n
of a s in g le th in g o f th e w o rld , it is o n ly th e re s u lt o f a v o lu n ta ry but
s e c o n d a r y a c t o f a b s tr a c tio n . T h a t is w h y a n a c tu a l p e r c e p tio n is o n ly th e
s ta r tin g p o in t o f in f in ite p o s s ib ilitie s o f e x p lo r a tio n in r e la tio n to th e th in g
p e r c e i v e d . A n a n a l o g i c a l s i t u a t i o n e x i s t s b e t w e e n m y c o g i t o a n d t h e c o g it o o f
th e O th e r . T h e in f in ity o f p o s s ib ilitie s o f e x p lo r a tio n o f th e th in g p e r c e iv e d
a n d th e w o r ld d e p r iv e s m e o f th e m o n o p o ly a n d th e p r iv ile g e in r e la tio n to
t h e O t h e r i n t h e p e r s p e c t i v e g i v e n n e s s o f t h e t h i n g . I f t h e t h i n g p e r c e i v e d is
a c c e s s ib le n o t o n ly fro m one s in g le p e rs p e c tiv e , its b e in g g iv e n is n o t,
m o r e o v e r , m o n o p o liz e d b y th e p e r s p e c tiv e o f a s o le s u b je c tiv ity . I t is in th is
w a y th a t a p a t h o f c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n in d iv id u a l s u b je c tiv itie s in a s a m e
w o r l d c a n b e t r a c e d o u t . “ I n r e a li ty , t h e O t h e r is n o t e n c l o s e d w i t h i n m y
p e r s p e c tiv e u p o n th e w o r ld , b e c a u s e th is p e r s p e c tiv e i t s e l f h a s n o d e f in ite
lim its , b e c a u s e it s lip s s p o n ta n e o u s ly in to th e O t h e r ’s, a n d b e c a u s e b o th a re
b ro u g h t to g e th e r in th e one s in g le w o rld in w h ic h we a ll p a r tic ip a te as
a n o n y m o u s s u b j e c t s o f p e r c e p t i o n . ” 28
In r e c o g n iz in g th e fin itu d e o f m y s u b je c tiv ity , I re c o g n iz e a t th e sa m e
tim e th a t m y p e r s p e c tiv e s c a n n e v e r b e th e to t a l ity o f a ll p o s s ib le p e r s p e c t i v e s
o f th e th in g p e rc e iv e d , th a t I c a n n e v e r b y m y s o le p e r c e p tio n s p o s s e s s
a c tu a lly th e w o r ld in its to ta lity . T h e O th e r , b e in g c a m a l s u b je c t to o , is in th e
s a m e s itu a tio n a s m e in r e la tio n to th e w o r ld . F o r th e O th e r to o , th e w o r ld is
a c c e s s ib le b y h e r /h is b o d y p r o p e r . W ith in th e lo c a l s p a c e n e a r b y , m y b o d y
h a s p e r h a p s a m o m e n ta r y p r iv ile g e in c o m p a r is o n to th e b o d y o f th e O th e r in
s o f a r a s m y b o d y o c c u p ie s a “ h e r e ” n o t s h a r e d b y th e b o d y o f th e O th e r . B u t
th is p r iv ile g e w ill b e n e u tr a liz e d s h o r tly w h e n t h e b o d y o f t h e O th e r , a s a
s y s te m o f k in e s th e tic p o s s ib ilitie s , com es to occupy in tu rn th e “h e re ”
o c c u p ie d b y m e a m o m e n t a g o . C o n s e q u e n tly , in th e s itu a tio n w h e re I fin d
27 P h P , 4 0 5 ; P P , 3 5 2 .
28 P h P , 4 0 6 ; P P , 3 5 3 .
m y s e l f a s b e in g - in - th e - w o r ld , I d o n o t e n jo y a n y p r iv ile g e in c o m p a r is o n to
th e body o f th e O th e r n o r d o e s s h e /h e in c o m p a ris o n to m in e . Thus I
u n d e r s t a n d t h a t " t h e o t h e r b o d y is n o m o r e a m e r e f r a g m e n t o f t h e w o r l d , b u t
th e p la c e o f a c e r ta in p r o c e s s o f e la b o r a tio n a n d a s th e p la c e o f a c e r ta in
‘v i e w ’ o f th e w o r ld . O v e r t h e r e ta k e s p la c e a c e r ta in t r e a tm e n t o f t h e th in g s
w h i c h h i t h e r t o b e l o n g s t o m e . ” 2’ I n s h o r t , s e e n f r o m t h e o n e a n d s a m e w o r l d ,
m y p e rs p e c tiv e on th e w o rld and th e p e rs p e c tiv e of th e O th e r a re
c o m p le m e n ta ry , m y b o d y a n d th e b o d y o f th e O th e r c o - e x is t in c o n n iv a n c e .
2.2. Intercorporeity as the Carnal Basis of the Intersubjective World
T h e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e c o n n iv a n c e o f m y b o d y w ith th e b o d y o f th e
O th e r le a d s to w a r d s a p r im o r d ia l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e s itu a tio n o f th e c a r n a l
s u b je c t w ith in th e in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld . I n fa c t, i f I c o m e to u n d e r s ta n d th a t
m y p e rs p e c tiv e on th e w o rld and th e p e rs p e c tiv e o f th e O th e r a re tw o
c o m p le m e n ta ry p e rs p e c tiv e s , I u n d e rs ta n d a t th e sam e tim e t h a t h e r /h is
p e r s p e c tiv e o f th e w o r ld o v e r th e r e is th e e x te n s io n o f m y p e r s p e c tiv e h e r e .
T h a t m e a n s t h e b o d y o f t h e O t h e r o v e r t h e r e , a s p e r c e p t u a l s u b j e c t t o o , is
g e n u in e ly th e e x te n s io n o f m y b o d y h e r e , a n d v ic e v e r s a .
I f m y p e r s p e c tiv e v ie w s o f th e t h in g p e r c e i v e d o n th e w h o le a im s a t th e
u n ity o f th is v e r y th in g , th is is b e c a u s e th e p a r ts o f m y b o d y f o r m to g e th e r a n
in te n tio n a l s y s te m w h i c h p r o je c ts i t s e l f to w a r d s a n id e n tic a l o b je c tiv e p o le .
L ik e w is e , w h e n I e x p e r ie n c e m y o w n b o d y a s th e p o w e r o f c e r ta in c o n d u c ts
a n d a c e r ta in h o l d o n to th e w o r ld , a n d w h e n , in p e r c e iv in g th e b o d y o f th e
O th e r I fin d in h e r/h im “ th e m ira c u lo u s e x te n s io n ” o f in te n tio n s w h ic h
a n im a te m y b o d y p r o p e r a n d r e c ip ro c a lly , I u n d e rs ta n d th a t th e b o d y o f th e
O th e r a n d m y b o d y fo rm a u n ity to o , th a t th e y a re “ th e tw o s id e s o f o n e a n d
th e s a m e p h e n o m e n o n , a n d th e a n o n y m o u s e x is te n c e o f w h ic h m y b o d y is
t h e e v e r - r e n e w e d t r a c e h e n c e f o r t h i n h a b i t s b o t h b o d i e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . ” 30
T h is a n o n y m o u s c a r n a l e x is te n c e is t h e p r im o r d ia l le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity .
I t i s t h e “ a n o n y m o u s c o r p o r e i t y w h i c h I s h a r e w i t h o t h e r o r g a n i s m s , ” 31 o r
e v e n “ in te rc o rp o re ity ” w h ic h M e rle a u -P o n ty d e s ig n a te s la te r a s th e b a s is o f
th e “ c o m m u n ity o f in c a rn a te d s u b j e c t s . ” 32 I n s h o r t, in te r c o r p o r e ity is th e
c a r n a l b a s is o f th e in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld .
29 P h P , 4 0 6 ; P P , 3 5 3 .
30 P h P , 4 0 6 ; P P , 3 5 4 .
31 P M , 1 9 5 ; P W , 1 4 0 .
' 2 M . M e r l e a u - P o n t y , R é s u m é s d e s co u rs. C o llè g e d e F r a n c e 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 6 0 (R C
h e r e a f t e r ) ( P a r is ; G a l l im a r d , 1 9 6 8 ), 1 1 5 ; T h e m e s f r o m th e L e c tu r e s a t th e C o llè g e d e
F r a n c e 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 6 0 ( TL h e r e a f t e r ) ( E v a n s t o n : N o r th w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i ty P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 ),
8 2 . C f. S i, 2 1 3 ; S , 1 68.
2.3. Carnal Intersubjectivity and the Child’s Syncretic Sociability
As in te rc o rp o re ity , th e p rim o rd ia l le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity is c a r n a l

in te r s u b je c tiv ity . I t is th e le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity w h e r e s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s
i s s t i l l u n a w a r e o f i t s e l f , j u s t a s i n t h e c a s e o f c h i l d r e n o f e a r l y a g e . A n d i t is
p r e c is e ly b y v ir tu e o f th is u n a w a r e n e s s o r f o r g e tf u ln e s s o f th e s e l f o f th e
c a r n a l in te r s u b je c tiv ity th a t, a c c o r d in g to M e r le a u - P o n ty , w h o j o i n s H u s s e r l
h e r e o n c e a g a i n , l o g i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v i t y c a n b e e s t a b l i s h e d . 33
In fa c t, th e c h ild liv e s in a w o rld w h ic h s h e /h e b e lie v e s
s tra ig h tfo rw a rd ly to be a c c e s s ib le to a ll th o s e w h o su rro u n d h e r/h im but
w ith o u t th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f p r iv a te s u b je c tiv itie s . T h e p s y c h o lo g ic a l s tu d ie s
u n d e r t a k e n b y J e a n P i a g e t o n c h i l d r e n ’s d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n t e l l i g e n c e h a v e l e d
h i m t o c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e c h i l d a c c o m p l i s h e s t h e c o g it o t o w a r d s t h e a g e o f
tw e lv e y e a r s o ld . A t th is a g e , t h e c h ild “ d is c o v e r s th a t s h e /h e is a t th e s a m e
ti m e a s e n s i b l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d a n in te l l e c t u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h a t s h e / h e is
a p o in t o f v ie w a b o u t th e w o r ld a n d is c a lle d u p o n to tr a n s c e n d th is p o in t o f
v i e w , a n d t o c o n s t r u c t a n o b j e c t i v i t y a t t h e l e v e l o f j u d g m e n t . ” 34 H o w e v e r ,
th is le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity is a lr e a d y th a t o f th e in d iv id u a l c o n s c io u s n e s s e s
w h i c h a im s a t s o m e in te l l e c t u a l o b j e c ti v it ie s . T h i s is in t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y o f a
h ig h e r le v e l, w i t h th e e m e r g e n c e o f th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e in d e c lin a b le
s u b je c tiv ity . I f th is c o n s c io u s n e s s fe e ls th e n e e d to a im a t o b je c tiv itie s w it h
lo g ic a l or s c ie n tific c h a r a c te r , it is becau se s h e /h e is a t th e sam e tim e
c o n s c io u s o f h e r/h is b e lo n g in g to a u n iq u e and in te rs u b je c tiv e w o rld in
w h ic h s h e /h e is s itu a te d . E v e n i f w h a t H e g e l d e s c r ib e s in th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y
o f S p ir it as th e s tru g g le of d iffe re n t c o n s c io u s n e s s e s fo llo w in g th e
a p p e a ra n ce o f th e c o g ito is to be tru e , “ in o rd e r th a t th e s tr u g g le can
b e g in , .. .t h e y m u s t h a v e a c o m m o n g r o u n d a n d b e m in d f u l o f t h e i r p e a c e f u l
c o - e x i s t e n c e i n t h e w o r l d o f c h i l d h o o d . ” 35T h e a n o n y m o u s c o r p o r e i t y i s t h e
le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity w h ic h is o n t h is s id e o f th e l e v e l o f in te ll e c tu a l
c o n s c io u s n e s s . I t s h o w s i t s e l f d ù r in g th e s ta te o f p s y c h o g e n e s is w h e r e th e
c h ild d o e s n o t y e t m a k e th e d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n th e e g o a n d th e O th e r , w h e r e
th e p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r a n d th e in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld is n o t y e t a p r o b le m .
T h is l e v e l o f in t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y is t h a t o f s y n c r e t ic s o c ia b i l it y .
2.3.1 Mimetism and Transitivism as Social Syncretism
I t is in th e le c tu r e c o u r s e o n “ L e s r e la tio n s a v e c a u tr u i c h e z l ’e n f a n t”
( “ T h e C h i l d ’s R e l a t i o n s w i t h O t h e r s ” ) 36 g i v e n i n 1 9 5 0 - 5 1 t h a t M e r l e a u - P o n t y
33 S i, 2 1 8 ; S , 1 7 3 ; H u a I V , 5 5 ; I d e a s I I , 6 0 .
34 P h P , 4 0 8 ; P P , 3 5 5 .
35 I b id .
36 M . M e r l e a u - P o n t y , “ L e s r e l a t i o n s a v e c a u tr u i c h e z l ’e n f a n t,” in M a u r ic e
M e r le a u - P o n ty à la S o rb o n n e . B u lle tin d e p s y c h o lo g ie (M M P S h e r e a f t e r ) , n o . 2 3 6 ,
e x p la in s in d e ta ils th e concept of s y n c re tic s o c i a b i l i t y . 37 T h i s is a

c h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e p s y c h ic s ta te o f th e c h ild a t a lo w a g e in w h ic h th e c h ild
is e x p e rie n c in g a k in d of “ in te rw o rld w h e re th e re is no e g o lo g ic a l
p e r s p e c t i v e , ” 3“ w h e r e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n m e - o t h e r s , o r m i n e - a l i e n i s s t i l l
a b s e n t. It is a k in d of e x p e rie n c e w h ic h g iv e s w ay p ro g re s s iv e ly to
e x p e rie n c e o f th e re fle c tiv e c o n s c io u s n e s s , i.e . th e c o n s c io u s n e s s w h ic h
d is c o v e rs th e d iffe re n c e o f p e rs p e c tiv e s b e tw e e n my e x p e rie n c e and th e
e x p e r ie n c e o f th e o th e r s . T h e p h e n o m e n o n o f s y n c r e tic s o c ia b ility is th u s
in a c c e s s ib le to s ta tic a n a ly s is . It r e q u ir e s a k in d o f o n to g e n e tic in v e s tig a tio n
o r g e n e tic p h e n o m e n o lo g y in o r d e r to p ie r c e its s e c r e t. F o r M e r le a u - P o n ty ,
t h e c h i l d ’s r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r s “ h a v e t h e v a l u e o f a g e n u i n e s t r u c t u r e : i t is a
s y s t e m o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h i n m y e x p e r i e n c e . ” 39 I n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s , w e
s h o u l d n o t a s k t h e q u e s t i o n : h o w t h e c h i l d b e g i n s to r e c o g n i z e th e O t h e r a s
an a lie n c o n s c io u s n e s s ? B ut ra th e r ; how th e c h ild le a m s to d is ti n g u is h
h e r s e lf/h im s e lf fro m th e o th e r s , e a c h o n e b e in g s e p a r a te d , w ith in th e s a m e
s p h e r e o f e x p e r ie n c e w h ic h is a t th is s id e o f th e d is tin c tio n m e - o th e r s . T h e
q u e s tio n th e n is n o t: “ h o w th e c h ild c a n tr a n s c e n d th e s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s
to w a r d s th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e O th e r ? ” , b u t: “ h o w s h e /h e tr a n s c e n d s s o c ia l
s y n c re tis m ? ”
S y n c re tic s o c ia b ility show s its e lf firs t o f a ll in th e phenom enon of
c o n ta g io n o f c r ie s a m o n g b a b ie s d u r in g th e f ir s t th r e e m o n th s o f t h e i r lif e a n d
w h ic h d is a p p e a r s la te r . T h is p h e n o m e n o n is a k in d o f m im e tis m in w h ic h th e
c h ild a s s im ila te s to h e r s e lf /h im s e lf e x p e r ie n c e p e r c e iv e d f r o m th e o u ts id e .
O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e c h ild a t th is a g e liv e s a k i n d o f tr a n s itiv is m in w h ic h
s h e /h e a ttr ib u te s h e r /h is p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e to o th e r s . T h e m o s t c o m m o n
e x a m p le is th e o n e in w h ic h th e c h ild p r o je c ts h e r /h is a n g u is h o n to h e r /h is
s i s t e r , b r o t h e r o r p l a y m a t e . 40
V o l, X V I I I , 3 - 6 , p p . 2 9 4 - 3 3 6 . T h is te x t is n o w r e p u b l is h e d in M . M e r le a u - P o n ty ,
P s y c h o lo g ie e t p é d a g o g ie d e l'e n fa n t. C o u r s d e S o r b o n n e 1 9 4 9 -1 9 5 2 {P P E h e r e a f te r )
( L a g r a s s e : E d i t i o n s V e r d i e r , 2 0 0 1 ) , 3 0 3 - 3 9 6 . T h e E n g l is h tr a n s l a t i o n o f th e s a m e
le c t u r e c o u r s e b e a r in g th e t i t le “ T h e C h i ld ’s R e la tio n s w i t h O th e r s ” in c l u d e d in T he
P r im a c y o f P e r c e p tio n a n d O th e r E s s a y s o n P h e n o m e n o lo g ic a l P s y c h o lo g y , th e
P h ilo s o p h y o f A r t, H is to r y a n d P o litic s , e d . J. M . E d ic ( E v a n s to n : N o r t h w e s t e r n
U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 6 4 ), 9 6 - 1 5 5 , is b a s e d o n a d i f f e r e n t b u t i n c o m p le te v e r s i o n o f th e
te x t. F o r th is r e a s o n w e o n l y g i v e r e f e r e n c e to th e o r i g i n a l F r e n c h te x t w h ic h h a s b e e n
r e a d th r o u g h a n d a p p r o v e d b y M e r le a u - P o n ty h im s e lf .
37 M M P S , 2 9 9 s q . ; P P E , 3 12 sq .
58 J .- F . L y o t a r d , L a p h é n o m é n o lo g ie ( P a r is : P .U .E ., 1 9 5 4 ) , 8 1 ; P h e n o m e n o lo g y ,
Ir a n s ., B . B e a k l c y ( A l b a n y , N .Y .: S la te U n iv e r s ity o f N e w Y o r k P r e s s , 1 9 9 1 ), 1 02.
39 M M P S , 3 0 2 ; P P E , 3 2 0 .
M M PS, 304; PPE, 324.
IN T E R S U B J E C T IV IT Y A N D P H E N O M E N O L O G Y O F T H E O TH E R 149
2.3.2. Infantile Existence as Pre-personal and

Pre-individual Existence
T h e p h e n o m e n a o f m im e tis m a n d tr a n s itiv is m s h o w th a t th e firs t p h a se

o f in f a n tile e x is te n c e is th a t “ o f a k in d o f p r e - c o m m u n ic a tio n , o f a n o n y m o u s
c o l l e c t i v i t y , w i t h o u t d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , a k i n d o f e x i s t e n c e o f t h e s e v e r a l . ” 41 T h e
k i n d o f p e r c e p t i o n w h i c h c o r r e s p o n d s to th is s t a g e is o n e in w h i c h “ t h e r e is
n o d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n w h a t is p e r c e i v e d a s h e r s o r h is a n d w h a t is p e r c e i v e d
a s b e l o n g i n g t o o t h e r s . ” 42 T h e t h i n k i n g a t t h i s p h a s e i s g e n e r a l l y p r e - p e r s o n a l
a n d p re -in d iv id u a l. E ven if th e c h ild b e g in s to sp eak in a m o re o r le s s
a rtic u la te d w ay, th e use o f th e p e rso n a l p ro n o u n “I” p ro p e rly s p e a k in g
a p p e a r s o n ly in a la te r s ta g e , la te r th a n th e a c q u is itio n o f th e p r o p e r n a m e a n d
o n l y “ w h e n t h e c h i l d u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t e v e r y o n e c a n s a y i n t u m ‘I ’ a n d c a n b e
c o n s i d e r e d a s ‘y o u ’ a n d w h e n s h e / h e h a s t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e r e l a t i o n
b e tw e e n th e d if f e r e n t n a m e s a n d th e ir tr a n s itio n f r o m th e o n e s to th e o th e r s .”
43T h e f a c t t h a t t h e c h i l d t a k e s a l o n g t i m e t o m a k e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n
h e rs e lf/h im s e lf a n d th e c irc le o f p e rso n s a ro u n d h e r/h im , and th a t th e
a c q u i s i t i o n o f p r o p e r n a m e is a c h i e v e d o n l y f r o m o th e r p e rs o n s , s h o w th a t
t h e a p p e a r ä n c e o f s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s in th e f u ll s e n s e o f th e te r m is p o s te r io r
to th e p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r.
D o e s t h e c h i l d ’s s o c i a l s y n c r e t i s m m e a n t h a t i n f a n t i l e e x i s t e n c e i s a p r e -
c o n s c io u s e x is te n c e o r e v e n “ u n c o n s c io u s ” e x is te n c e ? T h e a n s w e r to th is
q u e s tio n depends e n tire ly on th e m e a n in g a ttrib u te d to th e w o rd
“ c o n s c i o u s n e s s .” I f t h e m e a n i n g o f th e t e r m is l i m i t e d to t h a t p r e s c r i b e d b y
t r a d i t i o n a l i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m , i .e . o n e c a n o n l y t a l k o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n t h e f o r m
o f i n t e l l e c t u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e r e is p e r h a p s n o s e n s e t o s p e a k o f in f a n t i le
c o n s c io u s n e s s . H o w e v e r , f r o m th e s tr ic tly d e s c r ip tiv e p o in t o f v ie w , in f a n tile
c o n s c io u s n e s s show s th e fo llo w in g s tr u c tu r e : “ in d is tm c tio n of d iffe re n t
te m p o ra l m o m e n ts ; s y n c re tis m o f sp a c e ; g e n e ra lly s p e a k in g in a p titu d e to
c o n c e iv e tim e and sp ace as c o m p ris in g d is tin c tiv e p e rs p e c tiv e s by one
a n o t h e r . ” 44
H o w e v e r, to s p e a k o f s y n c re tis m in in fa n tile c o n s c io u s n e s s d o e s n o t
m e a n to r e d u c e it to a m e r e ly p s y c h o p h y s ic a l b e in g w ith o u t in te llig e n c e . T h e
te rm s y n c re tis m e m p h a s i z e s r a t h e r th e p r i m o r d i a l o p e n n e s s to t h e w o r l d in
t h e p r e - r e f l e c t i v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e c h il d . “ A t t h e b e g i n n i n g , t h e c h i l d i s n o t
c lo s e d o n to h e r s e l f / h i m s e l f ... E g o c e n tr is m is t h e a ttitu d e o f a n e g o w h i c h is
41 M M P S , 2 9 9 ; P P E , 3 1 2 .
42 M M P S , 3 0 4 ; P P E , 3 2 4 .
43 M M P S , 3 0 4 ; P P E , 3 2 5 . I t is o f r e l e v a n c y to r e p o r t h e r e t h e p r e s e n t a u t h o r ’s
o b s e r v a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a c q u i s i t io n o f t h e p e r s o n a l p r o n o u n “ I ” b y h is tw o
d a u g h te r s . W h e n th e y s a n g “ T w i n k l e , T w i n k l e L ittle S t a r ” a t t h e a g e b e t w e e n 2 to 3 ,
b o th o f t h e m j u s t s a n g o u t “ h o w w o n d e r w h a t y o u a r e ” e v e r y tim e , o m ittin g t h e w o r d
“ I ” w h i c h is in th e o r ig i n a l ly r ic s .
44 M M P S , 3 0 4 ; P P E , 3 2 4 .
u n a w a r e o f h e r s e l f / h i m s e l f ... I n d i v i d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a p p e a r s o n l y la te r , a s
o b je c tiv a tio n o f th e b o d y p r o p e r ...e s t a b l i s h e s a w a te r tig h t c lo s u r e b e tw e e n
o t h e r s a n d m e , a s w e l l a s t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n o f a n o t h e r a n d a m e a s ‘h u m a n
b e i n g s ’ i n a r e c i p r o c a l r e l a t i o n . ” 45
2.3.3. The Child’s Intelligent Activities and

Pre-Iinguistic Consciousness
I n f a c t, th e c h il d is c a p a b l e o f i n t e l l i g e n t a c t i v i t i e s b e c a u s e s h e / h e is
e n d o w e d w i t h t h e c o r p o r e a l s c h e m a w h i c h is a l a t e n t k n o w l e d g e i n w h i c h
a c tin g is a t th e sam e ti m e u n d e rs ta n d in g . T h is is sh o w n in th e c h i l d ’s
e x tr a o r d in a r y a b ility o f m im e s is s in c e th e f ir s t p h a s e o f h e r /h is life . T h e c h ild
r e s p o n d s e a s ily to a s m ile b y h e r /h is o w n s m ile s . M e r le a u - P o n ty r e m a r k s th a t
i f w e p la y w it h th e c h ild in p r e te n d in g to b ite h e r /h is f in g e r s , s h e /h e o p e n s
h e r / h i s m o u t h a n d r e p e a t s t h e s a m e g e s t u r e . 46 T h i s m i m e t i c b e h a v i o r c a n n o t
b e e x p la in e d b y a n a lo g y , f o r th is is a k in d o f h y p o th e s is w h ic h p r e s u p p o s e s
th e a c c o m p lis h m e n t o f a n a n a lo g ic a l re a s o n in g b y th e c h ild . I n o r d e r to
e ffe c tu a te a n a n a lo g ic a l re a s o n in g , th e c h ild o u g h t to h a v e a lre a d y so m e
k n o w le d g e of th e in te r n a l re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n h e r/h is in te rio r m o to r
f u n c tio n s a n d h e r /h is f a c ia l e x p r e s s io n s u c h th a t s h e /h e c a n p r o d u c e th e s a m e
e x p r e s s io n in r e p e a tin g th e s a m e g e s tu r e . N o w , t h e c h ild is fa r f r o m h a v in g
a c q u ir e d s u c h k n o w le d g e a n d s u c h r e a s o n in g c a p a c ity a t th is a g e . Y e t, th e
c h i l d ’s c a p a c i t y o f m i m e s i s c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e c o r p o r e a l s c h e m a .
W ith o u t g o in g in to th e d e ta ils o f th e d is c u s s io n on th e concept o f
c o r p o r e a l s c h e m a , 47 w e c a n s a y t h a t i t i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e t a c i t k n o w l e d g e
w h ic h th e b o d y p r o p e r a c q u ir e s f r o m its p o s itio n in th e a m b ie n t w o r ld a n d
th e s y s te m o f s e n s o ri-m o to r e q u iv a le n c e o f th e body. By th e co rp o re a l
s c h e m a , t h e c h ild u n d e r s ta n d s h e r /h is a c tio n a t th e s a m e ti m e w h e n s h e /h e
a c ts , n o t o n ly w ith o u t p a s s in g by th e re fle c tiv e c o n s c io u s n e s s , b u t a ls o
w ith o u t v is u a liz in g e x p re s s ly h e r/h is a c tio n in th e w ay one lo o k s at an
e x t e r n a l o b j e c t . N o w t h e c h i l d ’s m i m e t i c b e h a v i o u r i s p r e c i s e l y t h e e m i n e n t
e x a m p le of su ch an a c tio n w h ic h is a c c o m p a n ie d by an im m e d ia te
u n d e rs ta n d in g . A nd th e v e ry te rm of b e h a v io u r, u n d e rs to o d in a non
b e h a v i o u r i s t w a y , m e a n s t h a t i t is b e a r e r o f s e n s e .
In o r d e r to g iv e an o n to lo g ic a l e x p lic a tio n o f th e ta c it k n o w le d g e
in v o lv e d in th e c o n c e p t o f c o r p o r e a l s c h e m a , M e r le a u - P o n ty h a s p r o p o s e d in
45 M M P S , 2 9 9 ; P P E , 3 1 2 .
^ P h P , 4 0 4 -4 0 5 ; P P , 352.
17 P le a s e r e f e r t o m y d o c to r a l d i s s e r ta t i o n : M e r le a u - P o n ty o u la te n s io n e n tr e
H u s s e r l e t H e id e g g e r. L e s u je t e t le m o n d e d a n s la P h é n o m é n o l o g i e d e la p e r c e p t i o n
( U n i v e r s i t é d e P a r is 1, 1 9 9 2 ), P a r t I, C h . 3 .
t h e P h é n o m é n o l o g i e d e la p e r c e p t i o n t h e c o n c e p t o f ta c i t c o g ito ™ I t is w e l l
k n o w n t h a t w h e n M e r l e a u - P o n t y r e c o n s i d e r s t h i s c o n c e p t F i f te e n y e a r s l a t e r
i n a n o t e o f 1 9 5 9 , h e r e m a r k s t h a t i t i s “ i m p o s s i b l e . ” 49 M a n y c o m m e n t a t o r s
e x tra p o la te fro m th is n o te th a t M e rle a u -P o n ty w o u ld have g iv e n up th e
p ro b le m a tic o f c o n s c io u s n e s s , and c o n s e q u e n tly he has s im p ly g iv e n up
p h e n o m e n o lo g y . T h is is a k in d o f in te r p r e ta tio n w h ic h tr a n s g r e s s e s la r g e ly
w h a t th e te x t i t s e l f a llo w s u s to a s s e rt. T h e n o te in q u e s tio n r u n s a s f o llo w s :
“ W h a t I c a l l t h e t a c i t c o g i t o i s i m p o s s i b l e . T o h a v e t h e i d e a o f ‘t h i n k i n g ’ ( i n
t h e s e n s e o f t h e ‘t h o u g h t o f s e e i n g a n d o f f e e l i n g ’) , t o m a k e t h e ‘r e d u c t i o n , ’
to r e tu r n to im m a n e n c e a n d to th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f . . . i t is n e c e s s a r y to h a v e
w o rd s . I t is b y th e c o m b in a tio n o f w o r d s . ..t h a t I f o r m th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l
a ttitu d e , t h a t I c o n s titu te th e c o n s titu tiv e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . ” 50 T h i s n o te is
s itu a te d in a v e r y c le a r c o n te x t: it h a s a d o u b le ta r g e t. O n th e o n e h a n d , it
a im s at th e in te lle c tu a lis t in te rp re ta tio n of th e c o g it o fo r w h ic h each
p e r c e p t i o n is t h e “ t h o u g h t o f s e e i n g a n d o f f e e l i n g .” O n t h e o t h e r , i t a im s a t
th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l id e a lis m o f H u s s e r l w h ic h p r e s u p p o s e s a lr e a d y la n g u a g e
a s s o m e th in g in d is p e n s a b le f o r th e p h e n o m e n o lo g is t e a c h tim e w h e n s h e /h e
a c c o m p lis h e s th e r e d u c tio n . B u t is th is n o t th e v e r y ta r g e t th a t th e w h o le
P h é n o m é n o lo g ie d e la p e r c e p tio n a im s a t in its c r itic a l p a r ts ? H o w e v e r , a ll
t h o s e w h o c l a i m t o h a v e d e t e c t e d a r a d i c a l r u p t u r e b e t w e e n t h e V is i b le a n d
In v is ib le a n d th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n r e m a in o f te n s ile n t o n th e
l a te r p a r t o f th e s a m e n o te . I n fa c t, it a f f ir m s t h a t “ y e t th e r e is a w o r ld o f
s ile n c e , th e p e rc e iv e d w o rld , at le a s t is an o rd e r w h e re th e re are non
la n g u a g e s ig n if ic a tio n s — y e s , n o n - la n g u a g e s ig n if ic a tio n s , b u t th e y a r e n o t
a c c o r d i n g l y p o s i t i v e . " 5' I f M e r l e a u - P o n t y s t i l l a f f i r m s i n 1 9 5 9 t h a t t h e r e i s a
w o r ld o f s ile n c e a s a w o r l d o f “ n o n - la n g u a g e s ig n if ic a tio n s ,” it is b e c a u s e h e
c o n s id e rs it a p o s itiv e and e n d u rin g a c q u is itio n o f p h e n o m e n o lo g y . The
c h i l d ’s s y n c r e t i c s o c i a b i l i t y i s p r e c i s e l y a n e m i n e n t i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h i s w o r l d
o f s ile n c e , a n d th e in f a n tile c o n s c io u s n e s s is a n e m in e n t illu s tr a tio n o f th e
t a c i t c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e c h i l d ’s m i m e t i c b e h a v i o u r r e v e a l s n o t o n l y a p r e -
r e f le c tiv e c o n s c io u s n e s s , b u t a ls o a p r e - lin g u is tic c o n s c io u s n e s s . I t s h o w s a t
th e s a m e tim e th a t it is an in c a rn a te d c o n s c io u s n e s s : it is b y h i s b o d ily
m o v e m e n ts , e v e n ru d im e n ta ry , a n d h e r/h is fa c ia l e x p re s s io n s th a t a c h ild
e x p r e s s e s a p r e - lin g u is tic s e n s e , f o r e x a m p le s m ile s f o r e x p r e s s in g j o y or
s a tis f a c tio n , c r ie s f o r e x p r e s s in g c o n tr a r y s e n tim e n ts . T h e p r e s e n t a u t h o r ’s
o w n e x p e rie n c e w ith h is tw o c h ild re n re v e a l th a t a b a b y o f th re e m o n th s c a n
e x p re ss h e rs e lf/h im s e lf b y c r ie s am ong w h ic h we can c le a r ly d is tin g u is h
48 P h P , 4 6 2 ; P P , 4 0 3 .
49 M . M e r le a u - P o n t y , L e v is ib le e t l'in v is ib le ( V s l h e r e a f t e r ) ( P a r is : G a llim a r d ,
1 9 6 4 ), 2 2 4 ; T h e V isib le a n d th e In v is ib le ( V I h e r e a f te r ) , tr a n s . A . L in g i s ( E v a n s t o n :
N o r th w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 8 ) , 1 7 1 .
50 V sl, 2 2 4 - 2 2 5 ; VI, 1 7 1 .
51 V sl, 2 2 6 ; VI, 1 7 1 .
L A U K W O K -Y IN G
b e tw e e n th o s e a s k in g f o r f o o d f r o m th o s e f o r to ile t, th o s e f o r c r a d lin g fro m

th o se fo r a m u s e m e n t. The act o f g e ttin g h o ld of an o b je c t in h e r /h is
im m e d ia te s u r r o u n d in g is a n o th e r e x a m p le o f a c tio n e n d o w e d s im u lta n e o u s ly
by u n d e rs ta n d in g . A baby fro m a b o u t th re e to tw e lv e m o n th s com es to
" k n o w ” a n o b j e c t b y p u t t i n g it i n t o h e r / h i s m o n t h a n d t a s t i n g i t. A l l t h e s e a r e
i r r e f u t a b l e , i .e . p o s i t i v e , r e s u l t s o f d e s c r i p t i o n . W h a t is i m p o r t a n t is t h a t w c
h a v e to u n d e r s t a n d th e m in a n o n - p o s i t i v i s t w a y a s a p r i m o r d i a l e x p e r i e n c e :
e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e c o r p o r e a l r e f l e x i v i t y in w h ic h t h e b o d y p l a y s th e r o le o f th e
a n o n y m o u s s u b je c t o f m o tric ity a n d la te n t k n o w le d g e .
2.3.4. Intercorporeity as Carnal Syncretism and

Syncretic Spatiality
T h e c e n tr a l r o le o f c o r p o r e ity in th e p e r c e p tio n o f th e O th e r a n d in th e
g e n e s is o f s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s can be sh o w n b y th e b e h a v io u r o f a c h ild
p l a c e d in f r o n t o f a m i r r o r . T h e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e p h e n o m e n o n is t h a t th e
c h i l d ’s d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s p e c u l a r i m a g e o f t h e O t h e r a n d t h e r e a l O t h e r
( t h e O t h e r in its c a r n a l p r e s e n c e ) is a c h i e v e d p o s t e r i o r to t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f
th e s p e c u la r im a g e o f th e O th e r a s w e ll a s to th e r e c o g n itio n o f h e r /h is o w n
s p e c u l a r i m a g e , 52 F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n a g i r l s e e s t h e i m a g e o f h e r f a t h e r i n t h e
m ir r o r , s h e s m ile s . B u t w h e n s h e h e a r s th e v o ic e o f h e r f a th e r a n d tu r n s
a r o u n d , s h e is s u r p r is e d to s e e h e r f a th e r h i m s e l f th e r e . I t is b e c a u s e in th e
firs t p h a s e o f lif e , a c h ild does not yet have a c le a r a w a re n e ss o f th e
d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e im a g e a n d th e o r ig in a l, b e tw e e n th e s p e c u la r im a g e
a n d th e v is u a l im a g e o f th e p e r s o n in h e r s e lf /h im s e lf . A c h ild a t th is s ta g e
s till c o n s id e r s th e tw o a s e a c h h a v in g a p r o p e r a n d in d e p e n d e n t e x is te n c e .
F o r M e r l e a u - P o n t y , t h i s m e a n s th a t “ th e im a g e is n e v e r a s i m p l e r e f l e c ti o n
b u t a q u a s i p r e s e n c e , " t h a t t h e i m a g e is “ i n a c e r t a i n s e n s e a n i n c a r n a t i o n . ” 53
B u t w h y i s t h e c h i l d ’s a c q u i s i t i o n o f t h e s p e c u l a r i m a g e o f h e r / h i s b o d y
p r o p e r la te r th a n th a t o f th e O th e r ? I t is b e c a u s e f o r th e b o d y o f t h e O th e r , th e
c h il d c a n h a v e a c c e s s to tw o d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f im a g e , e .g . t h e v i s u a l im a g e o f
her fa th e r in h im s e lf a n d th e im a g e o f her fa th e r in th e m ir r o r . T h is
r e c o g n i t i o n is e a s i e r i n s o f a r a s i t is a k i n d o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i n i n d is t in c ti o n .
W h e r e a s f o r th e c h ild h e r s e lf , s h e h a s o n ly o n e c o m p le te v is u a l im a g e o f h e r
b o d y , th a t o f th e m ir r o r . A c h ild c o m e s to g r a s p h e r b o d y b y in te r o c e p tio n .
S h e h a s a n i n t e r o c e p t i v c c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e b o d y p r o p e r w h i c h is a f e lt s e l f -
c o n s c io u s n e s s , i.e . c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e p r e - r e f le c tiv e o r d e r . I n o r d e r th a t th e
c h ild c a n r e c o g n iz e h e r o w n s p e c u la r im a g e , s h e h a s to t a k e th e v is u a l im a g e
a s a s p e c ta c le a n d h a s to b e a b le to b e c o m e t h e s p e c ta to r o f h e r s e lf . S h e
a c q u ir e s th e e x p e r ie n c e o f s p e c ta c le f ir s t o f a ll b y th e v is u a l im a g e o f th e
52 M M P S , 3 0 1 0 ; P P E , 3 1 5 - 3 1 6 .
* M M PS, 301; PP E , 317.
IN T E R S U B J E C T IV IT Y A N D P H E N O M E N O L O G Y O F T H E O TH E R 153
O th e r (e ith e r b y th e b o d ily p re se n c e o f th e O th e r in p erso n , or by th e

s p e c u l a r i m a g e o f t h e b o d y o f t h e O t h e r ) . T h e p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e O t h e r is t h u s
a c o n s titu tiv e e le m e n t o f t h e p e r c e p tio n o f th e b o d y p r o p e r a s s p e c ta c le .
H o w e v e r, in so far as th e c h ild does not yet m ake th e d is tin c tio n
b e tw e e n th e s p e c u la r im a g e a n d th e v is u a l im a g e o f t h e p e r s o n p r e s e n t in
h e r s e lf , th e c h ild s e e s h e r s p e c u la r im a g e a s a k in d o f s e lf - p r o je c tio n , a n d s h e
th in k s th a t th e im a g e is a d o u b le o f h e r s e lf . F o r e x a m p le a c h ild p la y s w it h
her ow n s p e c u la r im a g e . H e re th e r e is n o t o n ly a k in d o f in d is tin c tio n
b e tw e e n th e v is u a l im a g e a n d th e s p e c u la r im a g e , b u t a ls o a n in d is tin c tio n
b e tw e e n in te ro c e p tiv e g iv e n n e s s and v is u a l and e x te rn a l g iv e n n e s s . In
c o m m e n ta tin g th e o b s e rv a tio n s o f th e F re n c h p s y c h o lo g is t H e n ri W a llo n ,
M e r l e a u - P o n t y s a y s t h a t f o r t h e c h i l d a t th i s s t a g e “ t h e r e is n o t a f e lt b o d y
a n d a v is u a l b o d y in tw o d is tin c tiv e p e r s o n s ... I t is r a th e r th e q u e s tio n o f a
s e c o n d b o d y in th e m ir r o r , a k i n d o f id e n tity a t d is ta n c e , a u b iq u ity o f th e
b o d y . ” 54 T h i s u b i q u i t y o f th e b o d y is a c a rn a l s y n c re tis m in w h ic h “ th e
i n t e r o c e p t i v e b o d y , t h e v i s u a l b o d y a n d t h e O t h e r f o r m a s y s t e m . ” 55 A n d t h i s
s y s te m is n o th in g o th e r th a n th a t o f in te r c o r p o r e ity .
I n te r c o r p o r e ity a s c a r n a l s y n c r e tis m in th e c h ild c o r r e s p o n d s to a m o d e
o f s y n c r e tic s p a tia lity v e r y d if f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f th e a d u lt. B y in d is tin c tio n
b e tw e e n th e in te r o c e p tiv e b o d y a n d th e v is u a l b o d y , th e c h ild “ b e lie v e s th a t
h e is w h e r e h e f e e ls h i m s e l f a n d w h e r e h e s e e s h i m s e l f . . .[ H e ] c a n t h i n k t h a t a
p e r s o n c a n b e i n s e v e r a l p l a c e s w h e r e h e h a s a l r e a d y s e e n t h i s p e r s o n . ” 56 I t i s
th u s a q u e s tio n o f s y n c r e tic s p a tia lity w h ic h a d h e r e s to im a g e s . S y n c r e tic
s p a tia lity w ill b e p r o g r e s s iv e ly r e d u c e d a s in te lle c tu a l d e v e lo p m e n t te a c h e s
u s “ to r e f e r o u r s p e c u la r im a g e b a c k to o u r b o d y p r o p e r a n d to r e c o g n iz e th a t
i m a g e is j u s t a k i n d o f p r e - s p a c e . . . , t o a d m i t t h a t o u r s p e c u l a r i m a g e i s n o n -
r e a l, to o v e r c o m e th is s p a tia lity a d h e r in g to im a g e s a n d to s u b s titu te f o r it a n
i d e a l s p a c e w i t h r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s p a t i a l v a l u e s . ” 57 F r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f
g e o m e tric a l s c ie n c e , th is s p a tia l s y n c r e tis m is p rim itiv e . B ut fro m th e
a e s t h e t i c p o i n t o f v i e w , t h i s p r i m i t i v i s m i n t h e s e n s e o f a - p e r s p e c t i v i s m is a t
th e o r ig in o f th e a r tis tic r e v o lu tio n o f th e T w e n tie th C e n tu r y . F o r e x a m p le ,
o n e c a n o n l y t h i n k o f t h e “ s c a n d a l ” o f C u b i s m , a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r P i c a s s o ’s
“ L e s f i l l e s d ’A v i g n o n ” d u r i n g i t s e a r l y r e c e p t i o n . I n f a n t i l e sk e tc h e s o fte n
r e v e a l a c o n c e p tio n o f p e r s p e c tiv e v e r y d if f e r e n t f r o m th a t o f th e a d u lt, a n d it
is n o t a t a ll s u r p r i s i n g t h a t c h i l d r e n u s u a l l y c a n a p p r e c i a t e m o d e m a r t m u c h
m o re re a d ily th a t a d u lts fo r w hom m odem a rt w o rk s a re o f te n
“ in c o m p r e h e n s ib le .”
W i t h t h e r e d u c t i o n o f s y n c r e t i c s p a t i a l i t y , s o c i a l s y n c r e t i s m is n o t a t a ll
e n tir e ly s u p p r e s s e d , it is r a th e r p o s tp o n e d . I n d is tin c tio n b e tw e e n m y s e l f a n d
54 M M P S , 3 0 2 ; P P E , 3 2 0 .
55 M M P S , 3 0 1 ; P P E , 3 1 8 .
56 M M P S , 3 0 0 ; P P E , 3 1 6 .
57 I b id .
th e O th e r r e a p p e a r s a t a n o th e r le v e l i n a d u lt a g e . A n e m in e n t e x a m p le is lo v e .
“ T o lo v e is to a c c e p t to b e u n d e r t h e in f lu e n c e o f th e O th e r a n d a ls o to
e x e r c is e in f lu e n c e o n th e O th e r . L ik e w is e , th e a d u lt c a n n o t a d o p t a n a ttitu d e
of n o n -in te rv e n tio n to w a rd s th e c h i l d . ” 58 A n d a d u lt s e x u a lity is th e
s y n c r e tic o - c a m a l p h e n o m e n o n p r o p e r . T h a t is w h y M e r le a u - P o n ty c o n c lu d e s
th a t “ tra n s itiv is m is o v e r c o m e i n t h e o r d e r o f h a b itu a l lif e , b u t n o t in th e
o r d e r o f s e n t i m e n t s . ” 59
2.4. Intersubjectivity of Individual Consciousnesses and the

Habitual Social World of the Adult
I f t h e o b s e r v a tio n s o n th e p s y c h o g e n e s is o f th e c h ild r e v e a l th a t th e f ir s t
p h a s e o f h u m a n e x is te n c e is m a r k e d b y s y n c re tic s o c ia b ility , th a t w e a re
a lw a y s a lre a d y o p e n to a n in te rs u b je c tiv e w o rld b y a k in d o f id e n tity a t
d is ta n c e w ith o th e rs as in te rc o rp o re ity , a ll th e s e a re in d is p e n s a b le
a c q u is itio n s in o r d e r t h a t t h e r e is a u n iq u e a n d in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld f o r th e
a d u lt. W e c a n th u s ta k e u p a g a in fo r o u rs e lv e s th e re m a rk s o f th e y o u n g
J e a n -F ra n ç o is L y o ta rd a p ro p o s M e r l e a u - P o n t y ’s concept of s y n c re tic
s o c i a b i l i t y : “ I f t h e r e is a s o c i a l r e a l m f o r m e , i t is b e c a u s e I a m o r i g i n a r i l y o f
th e s o c ia l; a n d th e m e a n in g s th a t I in e v ita b ly p r o je c t o n to th e b e h a v io r
p a tte rn s o f th e O th e r , if I know th a t I u n d e rs ta n d th e m or I have to
u n d e rs ta n d th e m , it is because th e O th e r and I have been and re m a in
u n d e rs to o d w ith in a u n iq u e n e tw o r k o f b e h a v io u r p a tte rn s a n d in a c o m m o n
f l u x o f i n t e n t i o n a l i t i e s . ” 60
H o w e v e r, w h e n I c o m e to a d u lth o o d a n d r e fle c t o n m y o w n e x p e rie n c e ,
I o b s e rv e th a t a n y a ffirm a tio n , a n y e n g a g e m e n t, a n d e v e n a n y n e g a tio n o r
a n y d o u b t ta k e t h e i r p la c e i n a p r e l i m i n a r i l y o p e n e x p e r ie n tia l fie ld ; a ll th e s e
e x p e rie n c e s te s tify th a t th e re e x is ts o f a s e lf w ith o u t w h ic h th e re w o u ld n e v e r
b e a c t u a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h o t h e r s . 61 T h a t i s w h y , w h i l e i n s i s t i n g o n t h e
p r e - g iv e n n e s s o f th e in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld , th e a u th o r o f th e P h e n o m e n o lo g y
o f P e r c e p tio n a lw a y s d e f e n d s t h e p o s i t i o n o f th e in d e c lin a b le s u b je c tiv ity
w h ic h is a liv e d -th ro u g h s u b je c tiv ity . In th e sam e v e in M e rle a u -P o n ty
a c c e p ts a ls o th e p r o b le m o f a liv e d - th r o u g h s o lip s is m . T h is is a le g itim a te
p r o b le m i n s o f a r a s i t is n o u r is h e d b y th e a w a r e n e s s o f th e f in itu d e o f o u r
s u b je c t a s in d iv id u a l s u b je c t.
58 M M P S , 3 0 5 ; P P E , 3 2 7 .
59 I b id .
60 J .- F . L y o t a r d , L a p h é n o m é n o lo g ie , o p . c it., 8 2 ; P h e n o m e n o lo g y , o p . c it., 1 0 3 .
^ P h P , 4 1 1 ;P P , 358.
2.4.1. The Lived-through Subjectivity and the Awareness of the

Finitude of the Individual Subject
A s s u b je c t s itu a te d in th e w o r ld , th e a w a r e n e s s o f m y f in itu d e p e r s u a d e s
m e th a t I a m c o n s titu tiv e n e ith e r o f th e n a tu r a l w o r ld n o r o f t h e c u ltu ra l
w o rld . I o b s e rv e e v e n th a t I a m im m e rs e d in th e g e n e ra lity o f th e b o d y . B u t I
o b s e r v e t o o t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s a g e n e r a l i t y o f m y i n a l i e n a b l e s u b j e c t i v i t y : i t is
s till b y m y f ir s t p e r c e p tio n a n d n o t th a t o f th e O th e r t h a t th e w o r ld is g iv e n to
m e, a n d th is h a p p e n s n o t o n ly in a p u re ly p a s s iv e w a y , b u t in m y o w n
p r o j e c t s t o o , s u c h t h a t t h e w o r l d is a ls o in c e s s a n t l y b e i n g t a k e n u p b y m e . B y
v ir tu e o f m y p r o je c ts , th e r e is p la c e to s p e a k o f a w o r ld f o r m e . U n d e r s to o d
in th is w a y , m y s u b je c tiv ity is th u s a liv e d - th r o u g h s u b je c tiv ity . T o p r e te n d
t h a t w e c a n o v e r c o m e th is liv e d - th r o u g h s u b je c tiv ity in th e p u r e r e f le c tio n o f
th e o v e rh a n g in g c o n s c io u s n e s s w o u ld m ean th a t we in s ta ll o u r s e lv e s
h y p o th e tic a lly i n t h e s itu a tio n o f a n im p a r tia l b e in g b e f o r e w h ic h I a n d a ll th e
o th e r s w e r e s p r e a d o u t in p e r f e c t e q u a lity . I n th is w a y I w o u ld h a v e e le v a te d
m y s e l f to t h e s ta tu s o f a G o d . B u t I a m n o t G o d . M y p r e te n s io n to d iv in ity in
a ffirm in g m y s e lf as u n iv e rs a l s u b je c t does not p rev en t th a t in a c tu a l
p e rc e p tio n of th e O th e r , th e O th e r so o n ta k e s aw ay th is p re te n d e d
u n iv e r s a lity . I n o th e r w o r d s , th e ir r e f u ta b le e x p e r ie n c e o f th e O th e r a lw a y s
r e m in d s m e th a t I a m a n in d iv id u a l c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d a s s u c h a f in ite s u b je c t.
T h e i n d i v i d u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s is t h e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h e n a b le s
m e to e m e rg e fro m anonym ous e x is te n c e . It is a lw a y s because o f th e
in c a rn a te d c o n s c io u s n e s s th a t w e c a n u n d e rs ta n d h o w s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d
th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e O th e r c a n com e fo rth fro m th e b a ck g ro u n d of
p rim itiv e in d iffe re n tia tio n re p re s e n te d b y th e s o c ia l s y n c re tis m o f in fa n tile
e x is te n c e . I n th e le c tu r e c o u r s e o n “ C o n s c io u s n e s s a n d th e A c q u is itio n o f
L a n g u a g e ” ( “ L a c o n s c i e n c e e t l ’a c q u i s i t i o n d u l a n g a g e ” ) g i v e n i n 1 9 4 9 - 5 0 ,
M e r le a u - P o n ty g iv e s c r e d it to M a x S c h e le r f o r b r in g in g th is q u e s tio n u n d e r
r e f le c tiv e c o n s id e r a tio n in u n d e r s ta n d in g c o n s c io u s n e s s a s in s e p a r a b le f r o m
its e x p re s s io n , th u s in s e p a ra b le fro m c o r p o r e i t y . 62 T o re n d e r p o s s ib le th e
c o n s c io u s n e s s o f t h e O th e r , S c h e le r g e n e r a liz e s th e c o g ito i n o r d e r th a t it c a n
b e a p p lic a b le to o th e r s a s w e ll a s to o n e - s e lf . U n d e r s to o d in th is w a y , “ th e
c o g ito is u n d e n i a b l y a c o n q u e s t o f c u l t u r e . . . b e c a u s e i t w a s s u b o r d i n a t e d to a
w h o le s e r ie s o f c u ltu r a l c o n d itio n s w h ic h h a v e a llo w e d th is s e lf - a w a r e n e s s : it
[ t h e c o g ito ] i s e x p r e s s i o n i n t h e s a m e w a y a s a n y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . ” 63 H o w e v e r ,
f o r M e r le a u - P o n ty , i f c o n s c io u s n e s s w e r e e n tir e ly in v e s te d i n its e x p r e s s io n s ,
it w o u ld b e c o m e to ta lly o p a q u e ; in th is w a y a n y c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e s e l f
w o u ld b e im p o s s ib le , j u s t a s a n y c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e O th e r a s a lte r e g o
w o u ld b e im p o s s ib le . H e n c e f o r th w e w o u ld o n ly p e r c e iv e b e h a v io u r p a tte rn s ,
62 M M P S , 2 4 0 ; P P E , 4 1 - 4 2 .
63 M M P S , 2 4 1 ; P P E , 4 4 .
but never p e rso n s. T hat is w hy M e rle a u -P o n ty c ritic iz e s S c h e le r fo r

m in im iz in g th e s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s to s u c h a d e g r e e th a t th e la tte r s u p p o r ts “ a
k in d o f p a n -p s y c h ic is m in th e m id s t o f w h ic h th e r e is n o in d iv id u a tio n o f
c o n s c io u s n e s s e s . H o w c o u ld a s u b jc c t w h o w o u ld n o t b e s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s
( in th e H u s s e r lia n s e n s e o f th e te r m ) e m e r g e a s s u b je c t f r o m th is c o m m o n
c u r r e n t ? ” 64
T h u s w e h a v e to ta k e in to c o n s id e r a tio n e x p e r ie n c e o f th e c o n s c io u s n e s s
o f th e s e l f a s m u c h a s th a t o f th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f th e O th e r , b e c a u s e th e y a re
a ll liv e d - th r o u g h e x p e r ie n c e . I t is n e v e r a q u e s tio n o f d e d u c in g th e O th e r
fro m a n in te r n a l s e lf h o o d a n d v ic e v e r s a , b e c a u s e th e o th e r s m a in ta in w ith
me a re la tio n w h ic h is n o t a lo g ic a l r e la tio n b u t a r e la tio n o f e x iste n c e .
H u s s e r l ’s v e r y n o t i o n o f p a i r i n g is p r e c i s e l y a b l e to c a t c h a g l im p s e o f th is
p r e - lo g ic a l d im e n s io n o f e x is te n c e w h ic h is th e d im e n s io n o f p r im o r d ia l c o
e x is te n c e .
2.4.2. Solipsism as Thought-Experiment on the Basis of

a Social World
B u t th e n h o w d o e s s o lip s is m c o m e f o r th ? W h a t g iv e s b ir th to th e f e e lin g
o f s o l u s - i p s e ? O n c e a g a in , i t is H u s s e r l w h o h a d a l r e a d y g i v e n th e a n s w e r in
th e I d e e n II w h ic h w a s th e n ta k e n u p b y M e r l e a u - P o n t y . 6S A c c o r d i n g t o
H u s s e rl, s o lip s is m has been ta u g h t b y us th ro u g h “ th o u g h t-e x p e rim e n t”
(iG e d a n k e n e x p e r i m e n t ) . 66 “ S t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , t h e s o l u s i p s e i s u n a w a r e o f t h e
o b je c tiv e b o d y i n t h e f u l l a n d p r o p e r s e n s e , e v e n i f t h e s o l u s ip s e m i g h t
p o s s e s s th e p h e n o m e n o n o f its b o d y ... i n j u s t a s p e r f e c t a w a y a s th e s o c ia l
m a n ... T h e s o l u s ip s e d o e s n o t t r u l y m e r it its n a m e ,” b e c a u s e it is “ th e
s u b j e c t c o n s t r u c t e d b y u s . ” 67
I n t h e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s t h e r e is n e v e r a q u e s t i o n o f s o l i p s i s m , b e c a u s e
t h e i r d o m a i n o f t h e m a t i c s t u d y is t h e f i e l d o f c o l l e c t i v e h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e . I t
is in p h ilo s o p h y th a t s o li p s is m c o m e s f o r th in t h e m o s t r a d ic a l m a n n e r . B u t
th e c o n s tru c tio n of a s o lip s is t p h ilo s o p h y p re su p p o se s a lre a d y a
p h ilo s o p h ic a l c o m m u n ity to w h ic h th is p h ilo s o p h ic a l th e o r y c o m m u n ic a te s in
u s i n g a p h ilo s o p h ic a l la n g u a g e m o r e o r le s s c o m m o n a n d a r tic u la te d o n th e
b a s is o f t h e n a t u r a l l a n g u a g e . T h e c o n v i c t i o n e x p r e s s e d b y t h e s o l i p s i s t o n its
tr u th m a y d u r in g a m o m e n t p u s h h e r /h im to s u s p e n d a n y c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith
o th e r s . B u t th is v o lu n ta r y a b s te n tio n o f c o m m u n ic a tio n n e v e r a n n ih ila te s th e
O th e r . I n h is s o lita r y m e d ita tio n , D a v id H u m e w a s p r o f o u n d ly c o n v in c e d o f
th e tru th o f h is ra d ic a l s c e p tic is m to th e d e g re e th a t h e d e n ie d h is ow n
i d e n tic a l s e lf . B u t th is d id n o t s to p h im fro m th e d e c is io n to p u b lis h th e
r e s u l t s o f h i s m e d i t a t i o n l a t e r . T h is d e c i s i o n h a s n o t o n l y c o n n e c t e d h i m a g a i n
64 M M P S , 2 4 1; P P E , 4 4 .
65 S i, 2 1 9 ; S , 1 7 3 .
66 H u a I V , 81 ; I d e a s II , 8 6 .
67 Ib id .
to th e p h ilo s o p h ic a l c o m m u n ity o f h is e p o c h , b u t a ls o h a s in s c r ib e d h im in to
th e c o m m u n ity o f g r e a t W e s te r n p h ilo s o p h e r s in th e h is to r y o f h u m a n ity . T h e
s o lita r y th in k e r c a n w e ll im a g in e th a t t h e w o r ld d o e s n o t e x is t. B u t e v e ry
r e f l e c t i o n is a n a c t o f t h i n k i n g c o n d u c te d b y m e a n s o f la n g u a g e a n d th e
m e a n in g s w h ic h are d e p o s ite d and re m a in th e re as s e d im e n ts . As a
c o n s e q u e n c e e v e r y r e f l e c t i o n is a k i n d o f d i a l o g u e e v e n i f its in t e r l o c u t o r is
in d e te r m in a te . F o llo w in g H u s s e rl, M e rle a u -P o n ty th in k s th a t “ s o lip s is m
w o u ld s tr ic tly b e tr u e o n ly o f s o m e o n e w h o m a n a g e d to b e ta c itly a w a r e o f
h e r /h is e x is te n c e w ith o u t b e in g a n y th in g and d o in g a n y th in g , w h ic h is
im p o s s ib le , s in c e to e x i s t i s t o b e i n t h e w o r l d . ” 68 B u t t o b e in th e w o rld
m e a n s n o th in g o th e r th a n th a t “ I a m g iv e n , . ..t h a t I f in d m y s e l f a lr e a d y
s i t u a t e d a n d i n v o l v e d i n a p h y s i c a l a n d s o c i a l w o r l d . . . t h a t t h i s s i t u a t i o n is
n e v e r h i d d e n f r o m m e . ” 69
T hat is w hy tra n s c e n d e n ta l s u b je c tiv ity is a re v e a le d s u b je c tiv ity :
r e v e a le d to i t s e l f a n d to o th e r s . B u t it p r e s u p p o s e s a lr e a d y th e liv e d - th r o u g h
s u b j e c t i v i t y , a n d f o r th i s r e a s o n i t is a n i n t e r s u b j e c t i v i t y , s in c e , o n c e m o r e , i n
m y n a tu r a l life , th e e x is te n c e o f th e o th e r s u p o n th e b a c k g r o u n d o f a c o m m o n
w o r l d is s o e v i d e n t t h a t i t i s n e v e r d o u b t e d i n m y n a t u r a l a tt i t u d e . T h u s i t is
o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t i v e w o r l d i n w h i c h m y n a t u r a l l if e is a n c h o r e d
th a t tr a n s c e n d e n ta l r e f le c tio n is p o s s ib le a n d h a s e f f e c tiv e ly ta k e n p la c e . T h is
in te rs u b je c tiv e w o rld is firs t of a ll th e s o c ia l w o rld w h ic h fo rm s th e
p e r m a n e n t f i e l d o f h u m a n e x i s t e n c e . 70 “ O u r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e s o c i a l i s , l i k e
o u r re la tio n s h ip to th e w o r ld , d e e p e r th a n a n y e x p re s s p e rc e p tio n o r a n y
j u d g m e n t .. .b y th e m e r e f a c t th a t w e e x is t.” I n s h o r t, th e s o c ia l is “ a tta c h e d to
u s b e f o r e a n y o b j e c t i v a t i o n . ” 71 W i t h t h i s s t a t e m e n t o f M e r l e a u - P o n t y , b o t h
H u s s e rl a n d H e id e g g e r w o u ld a g re e .
3. Conclusion
L et us re c a p itu la te th e above d is c u s s io n s . For M e r le a u - P o n ty ,

in te rs u b je c tiv ity m eans th e in h e r e n c e of any in d iv id u a l s u b je c t to th e
g e n e r a lity o f a w o r ld . T h is g e n e r a lity a p p e a r s a t tw o d if f e r e n t le v e ls . T h e
f ir s t is th e le v e l o f c a r n a l e x is te n c e o r in te r c o r p o r e ity w h e r e th e c h ild liv e s
s y n c r e tic s o c ia b ility in an anonym ous w ay. The second le v e l is th a t o f
p lu ra lity of in d iv id u a l c o n s c io u s n e s s e s w h e re each one liv e s h e r /h is
in a lie n a b le s u b je c tiv ity in e m e r g in g fro m a n o n y m ity . F o r e a c h in d iv id u a l
s u b je c t, th e re la tio n w ith o th e r s is at th e sam e ti m e re c ip ro c a l and
a s y m m e tr ic a l. “ W ith o u t r e c ip r o c ity , th e r e is n o a lte r e g o , s in c e th e w o r ld o f
t h e o n e e n v e lo p s th e n th a t o f th e O th e r , s o th a t o n e fe e ls a li e n a te d to th e
6SP h P , 4 1 4 - 4 1 5 ; P P , 3 6 1 .
69 P h P , 4 1 3 ; P P , 3 6 0 .
70 P h P , 4 1 5 ; P P , 3 6 2 .
71 I b id .
p ro fit o f th e O t h e r . ” 72 B u t as ca rn a l b e in g , each s u b je c t p o s s e s s e s th e
in d iv id u a lity o f its ow n p e r s p e c t i v e s . 73 M y liv e d - th r o u g h s itu a tio n is a
s itu a tio n a p p r e s e n te d f o r th e O th e r , w h e r e a s th e liv e d - th r o u g h s itu a tio n s o f
t h e o t h e r s a r e s i t u a t i o n s a p p r e s e n t e d f o r m e . 74 I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , w h a t w e
m ean by c o m m u n ic a tio n is n o th in g o th e r th a n th e c o m m u n ic a tio n of
in d iv id u a l p e rs p e c tiv e s w h ic h c a n in p a r t b e ta llie d w ith o n e a n o th e r b u t
n e v e r b e s u p e r p o s e d to ta lly . T h e r e is f o r s u r e a c o m m o n w o r ld s h a r e d b y m e
a n d th e o th e rs in o rd e r th a t c o m m u n ic a tio n c a n ta k e p la c e . B u t fro m th e fa c t
th a t th e w o r l d is a lw a y s ta k e n u p b y e a c h in d iv id u a l s u b je c t, th a t th e p r o je c t
o f t h e w o r l d is m a d e f r o m t h e s u b j e c t i v i t y a n d t h e p e r s p e c t i v e s o f e a c h o n e ,
M e r le a u - P o n ty p r e f e r s to s p e a k o f a n in te r w o r ld w h e r e n o t o n ly I liv e w ith
o t h e r s , b u t w h e r e I c o n c l u d e a p a c t w i t h t h e m t o o . 75
T h e te rm “ in te r w o r ld ” s u m s u p th e d o u b le r e la tio n th a t I w e a v e w ith
o th e r s . T h is lin e o f t h o u g h t is n e v e r d e n ie d in th e la te r w o r k s o f M e r le a u -
P o n t y . 76 I n The V is ib le a n d t h e I n v i s i b l e , M e r l e a u - P o n t y r e t u r n s to th e
a s y m m e tr ic r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n m e a n d th e O th e r . B y v ir tu e o f th is r e la tio n
th e p e rs p e c tiv e s o f th e o th e r s , b e in g n o t s im p le e q u iv a le n ts o f m in e , a r e
c o m p le m e n ta ry w ith m y ow n p e rs p e c tiv e s . T o g e th e r th e y fo rm a s y s te m
w h ic h is th a t o f “ th e o n e s f o r th e o th e r s a n d n o t o n ly th e o n e f o r th e o th e r ”
(“ le s u n s p o u r le s a u tre s et non pas s e u l e m e n t l ’u n pour l ’a u t r e ” ) . 77 A s
in te r s u b je c tiv e w o r ld , th is s y s te m is n o t in f r o n t o f m e lik e a n o b je c t, “ b u t a t
th e i n te r s e c tio n o f m y v ie w s a n d a t th e in te r s e c tio n s o f m y v ie w s a n d th a t o f
th e o th e r s ,” i n s u c h a w a y th a t “ th e s e n s ib le a n d th e h is to r ic a l w o r ld s a re
a l w a y s i n t e r w o r l d s . ” 78
72 P h P , 4 1 0 ; P P , 3 5 7 .
73 P h P , 4 0 8 ; P P , 3 5 6 .
74 P h P , 4 0 9 ; P P , 3 5 6 .
15 P h P , 4 0 9 ; P P , 3 5 7 .
76 T h a t is w h y w e a r e s u r p r i s e d b y th e s t r o n g s t a t e m e n t b y m y f r ie n d R e n a u d
B a r b a r a s o n “ t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n ” i n h i s o t h e r w i s e
e x c e l le n t b o o k L 'ê t r e d u p h é n o m è n e . S u r l'o n to lo g ie d e M e r le a u - P o n ty ( G r e n o b le : J.
M illo n , 1 9 9 1 ) , 5 1 - 5 8 . I n t h i s b o o k B a r b a r a s r e p r o a c h e s M e r le a u - P o n t y f o r h a v i n g
f a ile d to a c c o u n t f o r t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f t h e O t h e r s in c e f o r t h e a u t h o r o f th e
P h e n o m e n o lo g y o f P e r c e p tio n t h e b o d y o f t h e s u b j e c t is a lw a y s a “p r o p e r ” o r “ o w n ”
( “p r o p r e ” ) b o d y . A c c o r d i n g t o B a r b a r a s , t h e v e r y u s e o f t h e w o r d “ p r o p e r ” o r “ o w n ”
is th e s i g n t h a t i ts a u t h o r is s t i l l i m p r is o n e d b y t h e l a n g u a g e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d t h a t
h e w o u l d b e c o n d e m n e d , s u c h is t h e m e s s a g e i t s e e m s t o c o n v e y , t o s u b j e c t iv i s m a n d
s o lip s is m . F o r o u r p a r t , w e b e l i e v e t h a t w e h a v e a m p l y d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t e a c h c a r n a l
s u b j e c t is a n in d i v i d u a l s u b j e c t o n t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f c o r p o r e a l g e n e r a l i ty . T h a t is t h e
r e a s o n w h y w e d o n o t f e e l e m b a r ra s s e d a t th e u s e o f th e te r m b o d y p r o p e r to e x p re s s
th e e x p e r ie n c e o f t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e s e l f w h i c h , a s l i v e d - t h r o u g h e x p e r ie n c e in
th e s a m e w a y a s t h e e x p e r ie n c e o f t h e O th e r , o c c u p i e s a t t h e r i g h t p l a c e its s ta tu s
w ith i n t h e i n t e r s u b j e c t iv e w o r l d .
77 V sl, 1 1 3 , n . 1; VI, 8 1 .
78 V sl, 1 1 6 ; VI, 8 4 .

Intersubjectivity and Phenomenology of The Other: Merleau Ponty's Contribution

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S P A C E , T IM E , A N D C U L T U R E

I t is n o w a w e ll-k n o w n fa c t th a t o n e o f M e rle a u -P o n ty ’s b a s ic and

e m e r g e s . T h e la tte r is c o m p o s e d o f d is tin c tiv e s e lf - c o n s c io u s in d iv id u a litie s .

1. The Importance of Corporeity

1.1 Intertwining of the Natural World and the Cultural World

W h a t is th e re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e n a tu ra l w o rld a n d th e c u ltu r a l

1.2 The Cultural World is an Intersubjective World as

In d eed th e c u ltu r a l w o rld sh a re s th e p re -p e rso n a l and anonym ous

1.3 The Body of the Other as the First Cultural Object

1.4. The Irrefutable Presence of the Other in Human Dialogue

3 PhP, 400; PP, 348.

1.6 1Merleau-Ponty has combined the merits of both Husserl and

7 PhP, 401; PP, 349.

13 Edm und H u s s e r l, Ide en zu e in e r r e in e n P h ä n o m e n o lo g ie und

c o n s titu tio n w ith in th e c g o lo g ic a l im m a n e n c e r e s u lts in th e im p o s s ib ility o f

1.7. There are Two Levels of Intersubjectivity

2. Merleau-Ponty’s Two Levels of Intersubjectivity

2.1. No Single Subjectivity has the Privilege of the Actual

For M e rle a u -P o n ty , we have to re ta in th e im p o r ta n c e of th e

2.2. Intercorporeity as the Carnal Basis of the Intersubjective World

2.3. Carnal Intersubjectivity and the Child’s Syncretic Sociability

As in te rc o rp o re ity , th e p rim o rd ia l le v e l o f in te r s u b je c tiv ity is c a r n a l

2.3.1 Mimetism and Transitivism as Social Syncretism

e x p la in s in d e ta ils th e concept of s y n c re tic s o c i a b i l i t y . 37 T h i s is a

2.3.2. Infantile Existence as Pre-personal and

T h e p h e n o m e n a o f m im e tis m a n d tr a n s itiv is m s h o w th a t th e firs t p h a se

2.3.3. The Child’s Intelligent Activities and

b e tw e e n th o s e a s k in g f o r f o o d f r o m th o s e f o r to ile t, th o s e f o r c r a d lin g fro m

2.3.4. Intercorporeity as Carnal Syncretism and

O th e r (e ith e r b y th e b o d ily p re se n c e o f th e O th e r in p erso n , or by th e

2.4. Intersubjectivity of Individual Consciousnesses and the

2.4.1. The Lived-through Subjectivity and the Awareness of the

but never p e rso n s. T hat is w hy M e rle a u -P o n ty c ritic iz e s S c h e le r fo r

2.4.2. Solipsism as Thought-Experiment on the Basis of

L et us re c a p itu la te th e above d is c u s s io n s . For M e r le a u - P o n ty ,

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