The Problem of Mathematical Objects in Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology

Abstract

The article examines the problem of mathematical objects in Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology, emphasising their central role in his theory of expression and the constitution of truth. By analysing his critique of empiricism and idealism, it argues that mathematical idealities are not self-sufficient essences but configurations (Gestalten) shaped by perceptual, motor, and symbolic operations. Mathematics thus appears as a form of expression capable of producing new meanings, without reducing itself either to a derivation of its structures from the laws of perceptual experience or to pure formalism. The article concludes by proposing a synthesis between “pre-theoretical” and “intra-theoretical” phenomenological approaches, showing how Merleau-Ponty’s perspective allows for a dynamic and historical understanding of mathematical objects.