This thesis is concerned with the philosophical problem of the universal
and the particular and its application to identity and difference, specifically in
relation to cultural identity. Merleau-Ponty's philosophy mediates between the
extremes of a modernist view that seeks to subsume all difference in identity and
a postmodem perspective that only validates our essential differences. Neither
position offers a viable option for ethical relations or action.
While the conclusion reached in the present work affirms the superiority
of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological view of difference and identity over either
a modernist or a postmodemist perspective, initially Merleau-Ponty's notion of
intersubjectivity is criticized. In the Phenomenology of Perception, MerleauPonty
makes the claim that we can only ever live in one linguistic/social and
cultural world. This claim does not account for the experience of immigrants,
which attests to a borderland between worlds. In fact this claims seems to suggest
that cultural worlds are to be viewed as hermetic localities.
However, if Merleau-Ponty's earlier works are read in relation to the
ontology of The Visible and the Invisible, the problems of subjectivism in his
earlier works may be resolved. The notions of Flesh and Reversibility illustrate
that Merleau-Ponty viewed identities as creative enterprises and by extension the
intersubjective (t.e cultural and social ) world as one that is constantly re-creating
boundary limits. This thesis explores the hermeneutical implications of the
notions of Flesh and Reversibility in relation to cultural identity through the use
of personal narrative. Identities are posited as imaginary idenitites and cultures
are shown to be mutually implicated with each other. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15945 |
| Date | 10 1900 |
| Creators | Pandya, Rashmi |
| Contributors | Sassen, B., Philosophy |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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