Presents a guide to the core ideas which structure Merleau-Ponty's thinking as well as to his influences and the value of his ideas to a range of disciplines. This book presents the context of Merleau-Ponty's thinking, the major debates of his time, particularly existentialism, the history of philosophy and the philosophy of history and society.

Introduction Part I: Interventions 1. Phenomenology and 'hyper-reflection', Ted Toadvine 2. Existentialism: the 'new philosophy', Thomas Busch 3. Between empiricism and intellectualism, Taylor Carman 4. Psychoanalysis, Beata Stawarska 5. Philosophy of history, Sonia Kruks 6. Politics and the political, Diana Coole 7. Art and aesthetics, Hugh Silverman Part II: Inventions 8. Body, David Morris 9. Perception, David Cerbone 10. Ambiguity, Gail Weiss 11. Intersubjectivity and alterity, Michael Sanders 12. Expression, Harry Adams 13. Affect and sensibility, Suzanne Cataldi 14. Nature and animality, Scott Churchill 15. Chiasm and flesh, Fred Evans Part III: Extensions 16. Feminism and race theory, Ann Murphy 17. Cognitive science, Shaun Gallagher 18. Living well and health studies, Philipa Rothfield 19. Sociology, Nicholas Crossley