On the Embodied Mind. Body and Sexuality in the Philosophy of M. Merleau-Ponty

Abstract

The category of corporeality is often taken up not only in modern philosophy but in science also, i.e., cognitive theories of “the embodied mind”. In the paper, the idea of the body as a physical product which is managed by some human internal feature like “free will” or res cogitans is challenged. Instead, the body is described as an active part of human agency. Maurice Merleau-Ponty is not only distinguished as the pioneer of research in the field but a scholar the specificity of whose philosophy should be acknowledged as well. Focusing on pre-reflective experience of humans and their peculiar dialogic relation with the external world, Merleau-Ponty overcomes classic dualisms. Sexuality, being a specific dimension of human existence, is also the object of the philosopher’s scholarship. In sexuality he discovers other properties of human nature. As a consequence, Merleau- Ponty postulates that an individual should be considered “embodied human agency”. This is the focus of my article, in which I expound on the philosopher’s ideas providing arguments that the human body is a multidimensional entity and that such a definition is crucial to aptly characterising subjectivity/agency. I also point out that human’s psychophysical unity (monism) manifests itself in sexuality (including emotionality), being an essential ingredient of homo sapiens’ existence.