Place and Experience: A Philosophical Topography

In his introduction to ‘Place and Experience: A Philosophical Topography’, Malpas explores the dichotomous relationship between human beings and the spaces in which they inhabit. The dichotomy exists in the influence each entity has on the other. While humans change the land around them, so too does the land shape those who populate it. Hence, ‘nature is both “humanized and humanizing”’. (p. 2).

Malpas continues to analyse various authors, theorists and philosophers’ views on place and space, such as Henri Bergson, Mark Johnson and Donald Davidson. He focuses on theorists who purport that persons must be understood in relation to their surroundings (p. 11).

I find this view problematic in that often an individuals’ surroundings are constantly changing, therefore it is difficult to understand one’s mental life in such cases. However, it could equally be argued that constant external change mirrors internal change. This ties in to Davidson’s argument (from what I understand of it) that no contrast exists between the private world of the mind and the public world. In his view, these two worlds are one and the same; ‘the mind is itself constituted primarily through its interaction and involvement with the objects and events that surround it.’ (p. 11). This philosophy of externalism is something I find interesting and would like to do further reading on.

 

 

George

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *