Merleau-Ponty's Reciprocity of Vision

In postmodern philosophy, we studied Merleau-Ponty’s dialogue on the body, which was one I found fascinating and proved to be one of my favorites we studied all semester. I find his thoughts more concrete than that of others, which tend to be more abstract and not as easily apprehended. In the introduction to Eye and Mind, the author writes that Ponty declares that the facets of our being usually thought of as aphysical and abstract “can be shown to unfold from our condition as beings physically immersed in the world”. Ponty calls the body a “body schema” and describes it as a “framework of intentionality”. It is by means of this body schema that we open onto the world around us and engage with our surroundings. The author goes so far as to say “the body is my very means of entering into relation with all things”. He then brings up the reciprocal nature of flesh, writing that it is “the mutual application of seeing upon being seen” and this, he interestingly submits, is what animates the painter. I found his thoughts on this reciprocity of seeing and being seen, touching and being touched particularly interesting. Typically, I go throughout my day aware only of my own side of seeing, touching, etc. and am simply not thinking about being seen, being touched, etc. I enjoyed reading Merleau-Ponty’s Eye and Mind, as it caused me to reflect and think of things in a new way.