Reconfigures our concept of nature through the concept of the element Evaluates and builds upon Merleau-Ponty's contribution to the twentieth century return to the Greek idea of nature as a dynamic principle Utilizes the phenomenological tradition to offer a new interpretation of the relationship between philosophy and its origin in mythological modes of thought Integrates Merleau-Ponty into the history of philosophy Articulates a new ontology for the ecological age Presents the first book-length study of a key concept in Merleau-Ponty's late thought: the idea of being as element Taylor Knight reveals the way in which phenomenology initiates a return to ontology construed through a dialectical relationship between being and element. Within phenomenology's return to the elemental, Merleau-Ponty's late philosophy is a key locus, opening critical paths forward into an ontology for the ecological age. With reference to his phenomenological forebears - Heidegger, Husserl, Levinas - his non-phenomenological influences - Bachelard, Schelling, Freud - and his dialogue with Greek thought - Heraclitus, Plato, Aristotle - Knight shows what is authentically new in Merleau-Ponty's late ontology.