Contributions in Philosophy: Maurice Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception: A Basis for Sharing the Earth (PDF)

The past four decades have seen an increasing number of discussions by philosophers, environmentalists, scientists, politicians, and lay persons on the environmental damage done to the earth by human beings. Many of these thinkers and activists have demanded that human beings decide to share the earth with other natural species and not destroy them. Some have discussed human responsibility for the world, environmental ethics, and human stewardship of the earth, but have not ontologically clarified what they mean by these things. This book, based on analysis of Maurice Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception is one of the first attempts to ontologically clarify the idea of sharing the earth with other species.This text shows that many of the truths concerning perception that Merleau-Ponty brought forth from concealment have worthy implications for our relationship to other species of nature and to other beings that we encounter in the world. The work explains that Merleau-Ponty's findings and thoughts concerning perception can indicate how to live a whole and worthy life while sharing the world with other beings. The authors show new implications for human existence on the basis of some of the truths concerning perception that Merleau-Ponty disclosed.