Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a French philosopher known for his work in phenomenology, a philosophical approach that emphasizes direct experience and perception. He focused on how our bodies and senses shape our understanding of the world, arguing that perception is not just a passive reception of information but an active engagement with our environment. Merleau-Ponty's most influential work, Phenomenology of Perception, explores the relationship between the body and consciousness. He challenged traditional views that separate mind and body, suggesting that our embodied experience is fundamental to how we perceive reality and interact with others.