メルロ=ポンティにおける自己変容の契機としての言葉

Abstract

How can we convey our real ideas and feelings to others, especially on occasions where we wish to pass them on seriously? In fact, we cannot know whether we have succeeded in passing on our real thoughts to others. Then, what actually occurs in conversation? According to Merleau-Ponty, words in conversation are a way for transformation of beings. We can change ourselves by words in conversation. However, we must not think that only the conceptual meaning of words can change ourselves. According to Merleau-Ponty, a gestural meaning that includes feelings works more than a conceptual meaning of words in conversation. In addition, another person with a "potential body" leads one's intention to give real words. The state of intercorporeality will be the key to synchronizing change of ourselves in conversation. However, we must pay sufficient attention to the fact that we are independent even in the state of intercorporeality. We will return from the state of intercorporeality to ourselves and could change ourselves by recapturing the meaning of words in conversation.