Merleau-Ponty: An Ontology of the Imaginary

This study brings to light the original concept of the imaginary that emerges from Merleau Ponty’s thought. It elucidates the main influences that contributed to shaping Merleau-Ponty’s theory of the imaginary and aims to show that this novel concept constitutes one of the most crucial yet challenging keys to his philosophy and ultimately his ontology. This book develops the ontology of the imagery sketched by Merleau-Ponty and examines its practical implications. As its originally ambiguous and inseparable underside, the imaginary is just as central to Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy as perception. The author argues to enlarge the notion of reality by recognizing the imaginary dimension and “texture” of the real, and that Merleau-Ponty’s ontology of the flesh cannot be separated from an ontology of the imaginary. This monograph examines Merleau-Ponty’s conception of the imaginary against both his aesthetics, and his political philosophy – and appeals to students and researchers working in phenomenology and continental philosophy.