A Comparative Analysis of Embodied Perception in Mulla Sadra and Merleau-Ponty

In the sphere of thought, whether eastern or western, perception and thought are more conceived on the basis of the spirit and reason. In the meantime, bodiliness is either treated unkindly or is thoroughly ignored. Mulla Sadra with his essential movement and Merleau-Ponty through his Phenomenology of Perception allocated a pivotal role for the bodiliness in understanding and perception. To Mulla Sadra, bodiliness is the first step of perception (bodily initiation); then; through the spirit, this perception leads to the spiritual persistence. To Merleau-Ponty, on the other hand, bodiliness is the sole way to perceive the existence. The present study aims to analyze comparatively Mulla Sadra and Maurice Merleau-Ponty ideas concerning bodiliness through descriptive- analytical method. In so doing, Mulla Sadra's philosophy concerning the bodily initiation of the spirit are carefully studied to scrutinize the bodiliness. Then, Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception is described. Finally, the similarities and differences of both philosophers are elaborated.