Beyond a Pathological Outlook? The Plastic Reality of Bodily Phantoms from Merleau-Ponty to Malabou

Year 2024, Issue: 30, 63 - 76

Riccardo Valenti

https://doi.org/10.56074/msgsusbd.1550071

Abstract

This paper explores phantom pain sensations. Key questions include why we sense something missing and how to interpret this experience. I discuss Merleau-Ponty’s negative perspective on phantom manifestations and Malabou’s concept of plasticity, which ofers a more neutral view of bodily transformation. Malabou argues that somatic responses to lesions shouldn’t always be seen as pathological, unlike Merleau-Ponty. However, Malabou’s approach may still use similar language, especially concerning severe conditions like Alzheimer’s, where normalcy can’t be fully restored. This leads to a compromised aesthetic experience and limits engagement with the world, indicating a restriction in the understanding of successful aesthetic interaction.

Keywords

Phantom Limb Syndrome, Phantom Limb Pain, Plasticity, Habit, Phenomenology, Aesthetics, Neurobiology.

Patolojik Bir Bakışın Ötesinde? Merleau-Ponty'den Malabou'ya Bedensel Hayaletlerin Plastik Gerçekliği

Abstract

Bu makale fantom ağrı hissini araştırmaktadır. Makalenin gündeme getirdiği sorular arasında fantom ağrı hissine neden olan bir şeylerin eksik olduğunu hissediyor oluşumuz ve bu deneyimi nasıl yorumlayacağımız yer almaktadır. Bu makalede, Merleau-Ponty'nin fantom belirtileri hakkındaki olumsuz tutumunu ve Malabou'nun bedensel dönüşüme daha tarafsız bir bakış açısı sunan plastisite kavramını tartışıyorum. Malabou, Merleau-Ponty'nin aksine, lezyonlara verilen somatik tepkilerin her zaman patolojik olarak görülmemesi gerektiğini savunuyor. Bununla birlikte, Malabou'nun yaklaşımı, özellikle normalliğin tam olarak geri getirilemediği Alzheimer gibi ağır koşullar söz konusu olduğunda, yine de benzer bir dil kullanabilir. Bu durum, estetik deneyimin tehlikeye girmesine ve dünyayla etkileşimin sınırlanmasına yol açarak başarılı estetik etkileşim anlayışında bir kısıtlamaya işaret eder.

Keywords

Fantom Uzuv Sendromu, Fantom Uzuv ağrısı, Plastisite, Davranış, Fenomenoloji, Estetik, Nörobiyoloji

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