Geography and post-phenomenology

Abstract

This paper examines geography's engagements with phenomenology. Tracing phenomenology's influence, from early humanist reflections on the lifeworld to non-representational theories of practice, the paper identifies the emergence of a distinct post-phenomenological way of thinking. However, there is currently no clear articulation of what differentiates post-phenomenology from phenomenology as a set of theories or ideas, nor is there a clear set of trajectories along which such difference can be pursued further. In response to this, the paper outlines three key elements that differentiate phenomenology from post-phenomenology and that require further exploration. First is a rethinking of intentionality as an emergent relation with the world, rather than an a priori condition of experience. Second is a recognition that objects have an autonomous existence outside of the ways they appear to or are used by human beings. Third is a reconsideration of our relations with alterity, taking this as central to the constitution of phenomenological experience given our irreducible being-with the world. Unpacking these differences the paper offers some suggestions as to how post-phenomenology contributes to the broader discipline of human geography.

Blue space geographies: Enabling health in place

“…Drawing from relational geographies, the papers explore relationships between different subjects and between subjects and place (Cummins et al, 2007;Lorimer, 2008;Pile, 2010;Ash and Simpson, 2014). Such work has had some attention in health geography, especially in relation to emotional geographies (Conradson, 2005b;Davidson et al, 2009;Wood and Smith, 2004).…”

“…Yet a concern for inter-subjectivity remains under-developed and the papers provide useful empirical examples that flesh out intersubjective components of place attachment and orientations towards health (Duff, 2010;Budruk and Wilhelm Stanis, 2013). In particular, descriptions of inter-subjective encounters extend thinking around the subject-object relationship to consider multiple subjects relating to multiple objects in blue space (Bingley, 2003;Ash and Simpson, 2014).…”

“…Inter-subjectivity was also reflected in a mutual understanding that combined both individual capacities and social domains (Ash and Simpson, 2014). In all papers, individuals reflected on how they saw, valued and enjoyed blue spaces which were public, shared and multiply experienced and encountered.…”

Place-making at the frontier of Brazilian agribusiness

“…They have both an intimate dimension and a socialising logic (Antonsich 2010). Intentionality is, thus, an emergent relation with the world and not a pre-given condition of experience (Ash and Simpson 2016); by the same token, subjective views of place and space influence conscious or unconscious acts (Schutz 1972). Place-making is necessarily seen here as a relational phenomenon embedded in the activity of politicised, non-territorialised networks in which places are framed (Pierce et al 2011) and places should be treated relationally in order to better cope with a series of interactions that run 'into' and 'out from' places, such as climate change, labour movements and trade relations (Darling 2009), but still maintaining a critical engagement with the socio-political ordering of the world, including social, corporate and government organisations (May 1996).…”

Lebenswelt, Leiblichkeit und Resonanz: Eine raumphänomenologisch-rekonstruktive Perspektive auf Geographien der Alltäglichkeit

“…Ihre analytisch vielfach bestätigten und weiterentwickelten sowie empirisch bewährten Theoreme werden in jüngerer Zeit von "Post-Phänomenologie" (vgl. Ihde, 2009;Lea, 2009;Spinney, 2015;Ash and Simpson, 2016;u.a. ) und "non-representational theory" herausgefordert (vgl.…”