Concordia Hosts Philosophy Meeting

Sep 16, 2011

merleau

Philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty 1908-61 gave creative expression to the whole of human experience.  He reflected on the nature of human perception, art, literature, music, desire and politics.  Now some of those who study his work extensively are considering his approach to faith and Christianity.

Several dozen philosophers discussed that topic at the 36th Annual Meeting of the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, which took place Sept. 15-17 at Concordia. The theme for the conference was "Flesh, Truth, Sacred Life."

The event included a number of presenters including keynote speakers Richard Kearney, the Charles B. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College, and Emmanuel de Saint Aubert, a researcher at the Husseri Archives in Paris.

The M. C. Dillion Award for the best paper submitted by a graduate student was presented to Keith Whitmoyer from the New School for Social Research, for his paper, "Merleau-Ponty and the Permanent Dissonance of Being: The Temporal Extension of the Transcendental Field in 'Phenomenology of Perception'."

Dr. Susan O’Shaughnessy, Concordia philosophy chair, professor and conference director, says this prestigious event, and in particular this topic, was an ideal fit to be hosted at Concordia.

“The Merleau-Ponty Circle welcomed the opportunity to discuss Merleau-Ponty and issues of faith at Concordia College,” O’Shaughnessy says. “He was born into a Catholic family and used Christian metaphors in his work.  His focus on the incarnation of God in the human person of Jesus opens new ways of thinking the mysteries of faith.”

For more information on the event, visit the Merleau-Ponty Circle website.


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