Tag Archives: Descartes

Being disembodied

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Administrator

Sociologist Ian Burkitt comments that our experience of the self has become “essentially disembodied” (Burkitt, 1999). In truth, we can’t be disembodied – unless you share Descartes’ weird belief in an incorporeal self – but many people experience life as … Continue reading →

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Merleau-Ponty

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Administrator

This is the first of a series of posts that introduce thinkers who have been especially influential on my work. I begin with the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961), who was a pioneer in the study of embodiment. Merleau-Ponty was fascinated by our ‘being-in-the-world’ – the way … Continue reading →

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Descartes revisited

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Administrator

My previous post (Descartes’ stove: Philosophers and place) had more responses than any before it. Although there was only one blog comment, there’s been a lively conversation over on my Facebook page. I want to pick up on two themes of that discussion: Am … Continue reading →

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Descartes’ stove: Philosophers and place

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Administrator

Descartes is considered to be the father of modern philosophy. No wonder we’re in such a mess! You’re probably familiar with his theory, but to recap: Descartes considered the possibility that some very powerful, cunning and malicious demon might be deceiving him. He reasons that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Embodiment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments