Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908–1961) is well known for his work in phenomenology, but his lectures in child psychology and pedagogy have received little attention, probably because Talia Welsh translated the lectures in their entirety only in 2010. The Child as Natural Phenomenologist summarises Merleau-Ponty’s work in child psychology, shows its relationship to his philosophical work, and argues for its continued relevance in contemporary theory and practice. Welsh demonstrates Merleau-Ponty’s unique conception of the child’s development as inherently organised, meaningful, and engaged with the world, contrary to views that see the child as largely internally preoccupied and driven by instinctual demands. Welsh finds that Merleau-Ponty’s ideas about human psychology remain relevant in today’s growing field of child studies and that they provide important insights for philosophers, sociologists, and psychologists to better understand the human condition.
Table of Contents Preface A philosopher who is willing to observe The child as natural phenomenologist Chapter One: Early Work in Child Psychology Consciousness and action Nascent perception Development Chapter Two: Phenomenology, Gestalt theory, and Psychoanalysis Phenomenology Gestalt theory Psychoanalysis Chapter Three: Syncretic Sociability and the Birth of the Self Syncretic sociability The birth of self and other-awareness Chapter Four: Contemporary Research in Psychology and Phenomenology Neonatal imitation Theory of mind Interaction theory and dialogical relatedness Chapter Five: Exploration and Learning Magic and scientific thinking Child Drawing and adult oculocentrism Chapter Six: Culture, Development, and Gender Development and the case of menstruation Pregnancy and gender Contemporary feminist views Conclusion: An incomparable childhood References Notes Index
