Phenomenology of Language and Intersubjectivity in Merleau-Ponty

Abstract

The problem of intersubjectivity as posed by the Philosophy of Consciousness demanded from Merleau-Ponty an investigation of some of the key aspects involved in the phenomenon of communication, such as the expressive value of the word and the question of truth, which eventually inserted the philosopher in the scenario of important linguistic discussions. Acording to the speculative deepening towards the pre-reflective layer of existence, the analysis of language and intersubjectivity favored not only understanding the issue of creating new meanings, but also enabled an authentic experience of communication. By conducting this study the philosopher has stablished his thinking towards an indirect ontology, moving away from the notion of tacitcogitoas a condition of possibility for an intersubjective experience. The purpose of this article is to follow this investigation taken by Merleau-Ponty in the ’50s, in order to show the relation between the phenomenon of creation in the field of language and the possibility of intersubjective experience.