Body and knowledge in Merleau-Ponty

Abstract

The work is focused on the problem of knowledge, analyzing it through two main points: the theoretical bond contained at perception level, and the relapse of the same bond inside the relation between the philosophical tradition and the reflection on science. The first point shows the original function of the body, starting from Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology; the second point emphasizes and develops the sense of this rehabilitation of the body inside the theory and practice of scientific research. The result that we try to evidence is a twofold issue: to re-qualify the theoretical valency of the body and, with it, philosophical notions like ‘subjectivity’ and ‘foundation’ as well as  to justify, at such level, the need of an interaction between the philosophical theory and the scientific theory and practice.