The aim of this paper is to think about the possibility of Merleau-Ponty' s social theory. Here, I take up his conception of "intermonde" (intermundane space/interworld; in English translation). This is used in Merleau-Ponty 1955, 1964. At first, there is the need of considering aspects of the world we live in his thought. Merleau-Ponty indicates two aspects of intermonde, the sensible world and the historical world, In addition to this two, I try to seek for the third in the latter, it is what can be called the social meaning world. It belongs to the area of people's actions with symbols. Because of this seeking, it can be said that the world we live, in Merleau-Ponty's discussion, has three aspects, And, moreover what to be questioned is the meaning of 'inter' in the conception of intermonde. This 'inter' implies that each of three worlds contains the negatives. Given more detailed explanation, the negative is the invisible in the sensible world, the present in the historical world, the others in the social meaning world. Secondly, I examine the conception of institution (alization) in Merleau-Ponty, making reference to the discussion mentioned-above. This paper especially focuses on the action which causes transformation of institution. Concretely, it is the action of retakingt heinstitutionalized. In Merleau-Ponty 1955, this action is found as retaking choice of ours/others. The point is that the action of retaking is not necessarily subjective when institution is transformed through it. The reason is that it is in relation to the structures of world that the action exists. The structures of world are the three negatives mentioned-above. What to be taken up of three here is the present and the others. Owing to these two elements in the world, the action is signified beyond actor's intention. Though the transformation of institution brings about through retaking signification of action, its result dose not directly reflect the intention whose people do it.
|
