Abstract

The philosophy of Merleau-Ponty does not appear to have a theory of desire. Why did he neglect the problem of desire? My answer is that the ultimate purpose of the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty is to open “the doors of perception” which restrict our access to the world and to live in the world without desiring anything. It is the world of eternal beginning without any memory and history. It is the world in which anything is never repeated, and in which neither the purpose nor the meaning was born yet, but remains potential anytime. In this world, no one can have any desire because a desire takes place by a comparison of more than three things. A comparison needs memory and history. The philosophy of Merleau-Ponty is for perceiving and celebrating this world of everlasting beginning.