Reconfigurations of the Body: A Philosophical Reflection through Merleau-Ponty and Foucault

Abstract

The historical evolution of the concept of the body—from dualist views to monist and post-structuralist conceptions—reflects a transformation in our understanding, where the body has shifted from being perceived as an object of control to becoming an active agent of resistance. Maurice Merleau-Ponty provides a comprehensive view of the body as an embodied subject that shapes our relationship with the world, while Michel Foucault reveals how power and knowledge regulate and discipline bodies across various social institutions. This article analyzes and compares the philosophical interpretations of the body proposed by Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Michel Foucault, addressing both phenomenological and biopolitical perspectives. From the standpoint of phenomenology, Maurice Merleau-Ponty situates the body as the foundation of perception and lived experience, challenging the Cartesian mind-body dichotomy. In contrast, Michel Foucault examines the body as a social and political construct, focusing on how techniques of control and regulation are exercised over it within the framework of biopolitics. Although their approaches differ, both perspectives underscore the centrality of the body in human experience and subjectivity, challenging traditional dichotomies and offering a more complex and nuanced understanding of the body.