Reading Choice for 2026-27

Sartre/Derrida 

Search for a Method / Specters of Marx

In the coming academic year, we will tackle Sartre's Search for a Method and Derrida's Specters of Marx (2026 edition). Details to follow; the first meeting (on a Wednesday at 5pm online) is likely to be in late September. 

For further information, contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk .

 mauriCe merleau-ponTy, phenoMenology of percePtion

Next meeting (online) 20 May, 5pm

We will meet again on 20 May to discuss pages 448–466 of Landes' translation. For details, please contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk.  

Our final meeting of the year (which will discuss the reading to the end of the book and the book as a whole) will be face to face on the campus of Manchester University, on 3 June 5pm, followed by a meal.

 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

We will meet again online on 6 May at 5 pm to discuss pages 418–448 in the Landes translation. 

For details, contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk .

 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

For our next meeting, on 22nd April at 5pm (online), we will discuss pages 388–418 in Landes' translation (= end of section I,l of the book's Part Three). 

 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

For our next meeting (online) on 1 April at 5 pm, we will discuss pages 349–383 in Landes' translation (to the end of Part Two of the book). 

For details, please contact alex.samely@mancester.ac.uk.

 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

We will meet again online on Wednesday 18 March at 5pm. We will discuss pages 318–349 in Landes' translation (end of "The Natural World"). 

We also decided to have a hybrid meeting on 3rd June, with the in-person meeting taking place at Manchester University, followed by a meal. 

Please get in touch with alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk for more details.

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

Our next meeting will be on 4 March 2026. We will discuss pages 293–318 in the Landes translation (i.e., Part Two, II. D.i – to the end of Part Two III. A. i). The meeting will take place online. 

Please contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk for further details. 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

Our next meeting by Zoom will be on 11 February at 5pm UK time.

We will discuss pp. 279–293 (i.e., Part Two, II, C.i–vi) in the Landes translation (details below).

For further information contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk.

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

Next meeting (by zoom): 4 February 2026, 5.30 pm UK time

We shall discuss pages 265–279 in Landes’ translation (Part Two II B.i – vii.).

Further information from alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk

 Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

 Our next meeting will be on 21st January 2026 by zoom. 

We will discuss pp. 237–265 in the Landes translation (i.e., up to the end of section II. A. iv of part Two). 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception 

Last meeting of the Semester, by zoom

On 17 December 5.30 pm UK time we will meet for the final discussion of the Semester. We will explore pages 209–237 in the Landes translation (up to the end of "I,k" of Part Two).

For information or link, contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk.

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

Our next session will be devoted to the new pages 169–205 in the Landes translation (Vf – end of Part one), with a view to revisiting also pp. 132–169.  

The meeting (on 3 Dec) will also be face to face at Manchester University, for those who are free to join us. 

For details of the venue or online link, please contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk. 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

For 19 November, we will read pp. 132–169 in the Landes translation, i.e., up to the end of section V, g. Please get in touch if you want to join, alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk. 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

We will discuss pages 100–132 (end of section III, h) in the Landes translation at our next meeting (5 Nov, 5 pm UK time). Please get in touch with alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk if you wish to join by zoom. 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

At the next meeting, on 22nd October, we will discuss pages 69–99 in the Landes translation (sections I and II of Part One). 

Details of meeting times and contact below. 

 Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception

Our next meeting will be on 8 October, 5–6.30 UK time.

We will discuss the book up to the end of the “Introduction", i.e. pages 28–65 in the Landes translation.

If you wish to join, please email alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk.

Reading for 25/26

Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception, trans. Landes

We will read the book in fortnightly sessions, starting 24 September 2025.

Meetings by zoom Wednesdays 5pm–6.30 UK time

Provisional dates for Semester 1:

Wednesday 24 September

Wednesday 8 October

Wednesday 22 October 

Wednesday 5 November

Wednesday 19 November

Wednesday 3 Dec (possibly hybrid tbc)

Wednesday17 December

 

We will use Donald A. Landes' translation of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception (Routledge 2012).

At the meeting on 24 September we will discuss the first two sections of the "Introduction", so up to p.27 and MMP’s own preface (p. lxxi-lxxxv).

 Deleuze

Difference and Repetition

Last meeting of the academic year, 28 May 2025, in person and via zoom.

Concluding our reading of the “Conclusion” (from p. 370) and of the whole book, we meet in Manchester University in-person and by zoom. 

Our meeting starts at the usual time of 5pm and is followed by a meal for those you want to join us. 

For a zoom link or room information, please contact alex.samely@manchester.ac.uk.

 Deleuze, Difference and Repetition

Meeting 14 May 5pm Uk time by Zoom

We will discuss the first half of the Conclusion chapter (in the English Bloomsbury 2014 edition up to p. 370). 

Please get in touch with Alex Samely for a link. 

Deleuze

Difference and Repetition

Next meeting (by zoom) 30 April 5pm UK time

We will discuss the second half of Chapter 5 from “When we say that the eternal return…..” until p. 340 (in the 2014 English pagination).

Please get in touch with Alex Samely if you want to join.