Abstract

GESTALT THEORY IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT TO MERLEAU-PONTY,\nPROVIDING HIM WITH THE BASIS ON WHICH TO ANALYZE THE\nSTRUCTURE OF EXPERIENCE. IT ALSO ENABLES ONE TO EXPLAIN HIS\nREACTION AGAINST INTROSPECTIONIST PSYCHOLOGY AND\nINTELLECTUALISM. FOR MERLEAU-PONTY THE WORLD IS MOST\nFUNDAMENTALLY EXPERIENCED AT A PREPREDICATIVE LEVEL, AND\nHERE HE MAKES USE OF SCHELER'S NOTIONS OF THE LIVED BODY\nAND RESISTANCE. THIS WORLD IS THEN SHOWN TO BE THAT\nINTUITIVELY CAPTURED BY CEZANNE'S PAINTING