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244 definitions

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

1908 – 1961

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Abstract movement (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a kind of movement in certain brain disorders whereby, though one can scratch a mosquito bite (a concrete movement), he cannot touch a ruler pressed against one's leg (abstract movement). The solution does not boil down to consciousness, but rather to whether the act is wrapped as a step within a larger concrete task.

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An Accident (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠an impossibility (and a false problem) because existence has always proceeded via the assimilation of random events, rendering them rational.

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The Accident (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠nonsense in that existence is from the start characterized not simply by organizing things, but by assimilating random events and making them rational.

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Acting (n.) is, ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠in everyday absorbed skillful coping, experienced as a steady flow of skillful activity in response to one's sense of the situation. One does not need a goal or intention to act. One's body is simply solicited by the situation to get into equilibrium with it.

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Action (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a response to solicitations of the world guided not by goals or intentions, but solicited by the situation to get into equilibrium with it. Our body is not an object for an 'I think', it is a grouping of 'live-through' meanings.

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Advent (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠contrasted with 'event', 'advent' is not a datable occurrence, and contrasted with 'structure' it does not leave time behind. It institutes itself as a style. It 'detaches' itself from spatial temporal location by opening a horizon as a promise of events to come.

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The Advent (n.) continues ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to preside over a certain space and time.

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The Advent (n.) opens ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠possibilities, even ones it does not itself realize.

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The Advent (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠unlike the essence, not subject to identical repetition.

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The Advent (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠unlike the event, not absolutely singular. It is historical, but it overflows its singularity.

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Affectivity (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that part of perception which is characterized by what has significance 'for us'. Perception of things is not neutral but fundamentally imbued from the start by what has significance us. A being exist, by existing through desire or love.

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Alexia (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠world-blindness.

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Ambiguity (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that defining aspect of human existence.Everything that we live or think always has several senses.

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Ambivalence (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠when a dialectical structure solidifies into a pure identity of opposites.

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Analysis (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not able to further clarify our relationship to the world, as that relationship is untiringly enunciated within us. Philosophy can only place it once more before our gaze and offer it to our observation.