Early Approaches: Humanistic Geography What is humanistic geography ? What is humanistic geography ?...

Early Approaches: Early Approaches: Humanistic GeographyHumanistic Geography

What is humanistic geography ?What is humanistic geography ?

Lines of developmentLines of development

» Rediscovery of humanistic geographersRediscovery of humanistic geographers

» The humanitiesThe humanities

» Humanistic philosophyHumanistic philosophy

The next steps ...

What is humanistic geography?What is humanistic geography?

In 1970s geographers such as Tuan (1974, 1976)In 1970s geographers such as Tuan (1974, 1976) began to use phrases such asbegan to use phrases such as 'humanist geography ' and'humanist geography ' and

'humanistic geography''humanistic geography'

Terms connect to notions of:Terms connect to notions of:• humanness' or 'humanity' - what constitutes being humanhumanness' or 'humanity' - what constitutes being human• the 'humanities' - fields of inquiry into the conditions of humansthe 'humanities' - fields of inquiry into the conditions of humans• and being 'humane' - caring for humansand being 'humane' - caring for humans

Link to notions of humanism which emerged in the European Renaissance of the C14th-C16thLink to notions of humanism which emerged in the European Renaissance of the C14th-C16th• People began to challenge existing modes of thoughtPeople began to challenge existing modes of thought• Focus was on human reason and human freedomsFocus was on human reason and human freedoms• Human thought and actions were seen to be able to make a differenceHuman thought and actions were seen to be able to make a difference• Humanism valued peopleHumanism valued people


An approach which:An approach which:

Aims to put "man ... back together again with all the pieces in place, including a heart and even a soul, with feelings as well as thoughts, with some sense of secular and perhaps transcendental meaning" (Ley and Samuels, 1978)

Distinguished by "the central and active role that it gives to human awareness and human agency, human consciousness and human creativity" (Gregory, 1994)

Has as its "bottom line", "the objective of bringing human beings in all their complexity to centre-stage of human geography" (Cloke et al,1991)


People placed at the centre in 2 ways:People placed at the centre in 2 ways:

OntologicallyOntologically

Peopling human geographyPeopling human geography

• Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... 'human' geography' (Cloke Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... 'human' geography' (Cloke et al.et al., 1991, p. 58), 1991, p. 58)

'landscapes are either deserted of people - think of all those geometric representations of 'landscapes are either deserted of people - think of all those geometric representations of settlements … that render them eerily still, silent and devoid of life - or are occupied by little settlements … that render them eerily still, silent and devoid of life - or are occupied by little armies of faceless, classless, sexless beings dutifully laying out Christaller's central place armies of faceless, classless, sexless beings dutifully laying out Christaller's central place networks, doing exactly the right number of hours farmwork in each of Von Thunen's concentric networks, doing exactly the right number of hours farmwork in each of Von Thunen's concentric rings, and basically obeying the great economic laws of minimising effort and cost in negotiating rings, and basically obeying the great economic laws of minimising effort and cost in negotiating physical space' (Philo, 1992, p. 200)physical space' (Philo, 1992, p. 200)





• Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... 'human' geography' (Cloke 'human' geography' (Cloke et al.et al., 1991, p. 58), 1991, p. 58)

• Sought a more"credible model of humanity" (Ley, 1983)Sought a more"credible model of humanity" (Ley, 1983)

- Humans had been 'objectified:Humans had been 'objectified:

''whizzing about in space - travelling from place X to place Y; shopping at centre X rather than centre Y; selling produce at market X rather than in market Y - in a fashion little different from the 'behaviour' of stones on a slope, particles in a river or atoms in a gas' (Cloke et al., 1991, p. 69).





• Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... Questioned the 'curiously 'peopleless character of ... 'human' geography' (Cloke 'human' geography' (Cloke et al.et al., 1991, p. 58), 1991, p. 58)

• Sought a more"credible model of humanity" (Ley, 1983)Sought a more"credible model of humanity" (Ley, 1983)

- Humans had been 'objectified:Humans had been 'objectified:

Are people different from stones/particles/atoms?Are people different from stones/particles/atoms? People have feelings, perceptions and valuesPeople have feelings, perceptions and values People act with less regularity than 'objects' in the physical People act with less regularity than 'objects' in the physical

environmentenvironment



EpistemologicallyEpistemologically

'recognising the humanity of the geographer' (Cloke et 'recognising the humanity of the geographer' (Cloke et al, 1991, p. 58)al, 1991, p. 58)

Often described as recognising 'subjectivity'Often described as recognising 'subjectivity'

"all of the complex a priori assumptions,values, hopes and "all of the complex a priori assumptions,values, hopes and fears researchers themselves cannot avoid stirring into the fears researchers themselves cannot avoid stirring into the study of human situations" (Cloke et al, 1991, p. 58).study of human situations" (Cloke et al, 1991, p. 58).

Three principal lines of development:Three principal lines of development:

Rediscovery of early and neglected humanistic Rediscovery of early and neglected humanistic geographersgeographers

(e.g. Vidal de la Blache)(e.g. Vidal de la Blache)

Movement towards the practices of non-scientific Movement towards the practices of non-scientific disciplinesdisciplines

(e.g. history and art)(e.g. history and art)

Reading the writings of philosophersReading the writings of philosophers

(e.g. idealism, phenomenology, existentialism)(e.g. idealism, phenomenology, existentialism)

What is humanistic geography ?What is humanistic geography ?

Rediscovery of early and neglected Rediscovery of early and neglected humanistic geographershumanistic geographers

"the beginning of a humanist perspective may be found in the "the beginning of a humanist perspective may be found in the rich tradition of French human geography following the example rich tradition of French human geography following the example of Paul Vidal de la Blache" (Ley and Samuels, 1978, p. 10)of Paul Vidal de la Blache" (Ley and Samuels, 1978, p. 10)

La geographie humaine

- - human geographyhuman geography

- - call "to develop a a truly personal type of knowledge, one call "to develop a a truly personal type of knowledge, one that allows for emotion as well as thinking, passion as well that allows for emotion as well as thinking, passion as well as reason, and one that leads to an understanding of the as reason, and one that leads to an understanding of the self as well as to an understanding of the world (Buttimer, self as well as to an understanding of the world (Buttimer, 1978, p. 74)1978, p. 74)

Rediscovery of early and neglected Rediscovery of early and neglected humanistic geographershumanistic geographers

Wright (1925, 1947)Wright (1925, 1947)

- study of geographical knowledge or loresstudy of geographical knowledge or lores

"the informal geography contained in non-"the informal geography contained in non-scientific works - in books of travel, in scientific works - in books of travel, in magazines and newspapers, in many a page of magazines and newspapers, in many a page of fiction and poetry, and on many a canvas … fiction and poetry, and on many a canvas … [and] in the minds of countless ordinary folk" [and] in the minds of countless ordinary folk" (Wright, 1947, p. 10)(Wright, 1947, p. 10)

Geography as a non-scientific Geography as a non-scientific disciplinediscipline

Wright (1947)Wright (1947)

'the prevalent attitude towards aesthetic imagining in 'the prevalent attitude towards aesthetic imagining in geography is one of distrust … [which] too often causes us to geography is one of distrust … [which] too often causes us to repress them' (p. 7)repress them' (p. 7)

"legitimate and desirable uses of the imagination in "legitimate and desirable uses of the imagination in geography' (p. 11)geography' (p. 11)

"All science should be scholarly, but not all scholarship can "All science should be scholarly, but not all scholarship can be rigorously scientific. Scholarship … embraces not only the be rigorously scientific. Scholarship … embraces not only the natural sciences but also the humanities … professors should natural sciences but also the humanities … professors should be scholars in the humanistic sense - men [sic] widely read in be scholars in the humanistic sense - men [sic] widely read in the classics of geography and also in general literature and in the classics of geography and also in general literature and in literary criticism and history" (p. 15)literary criticism and history" (p. 15)

Geography as a non-scientific Geography as a non-scientific disciplinediscipline

Read literature to learn how to writeRead literature to learn how to write

e.g. Meinig (1983) cf. Billinge (1983)e.g. Meinig (1983) cf. Billinge (1983)

Use literature and art as a source of Use literature and art as a source of information on sense of placeinformation on sense of place

(e.g. Pocock, 1978)(e.g. Pocock, 1978)

Adopt interpretative/'hermeneutic' Adopt interpretative/'hermeneutic' perspective rather than an explanatory oneperspective rather than an explanatory one

Humanistic philosophiesHumanistic philosophies

IdealismIdealism::'an attempt to discover the thought that lies behind 'an attempt to discover the thought that lies behind actions' (see Guelke, 1974, 1983)actions' (see Guelke, 1974, 1983)

Phenomenology:Phenomenology:'an attempt to discover how people feel, both 'an attempt to discover how people feel, both consciously and unconsciously, about objects in the consciously and unconsciously, about objects in the world' (see Cloke world' (see Cloke et alet al, 1991, p. 72), 1991, p. 72)

ExistentialismExistentialism::

'an attempt to discover the experiences people gain in 'an attempt to discover the experiences people gain in the world' (see Cloke the world' (see Cloke et alet al, 1991, p. 76), 1991, p. 76)

IdealismIdealism

Argued that understanding human actions required Argued that understanding human actions required 'uncovering the thought that lies behind them''uncovering the thought that lies behind them'

Turned to the idealist historian R.G. Collingwood (1947) who Turned to the idealist historian R.G. Collingwood (1947) who argued that 'all history is the history of human thought'argued that 'all history is the history of human thought'

(cf. Marx & Engels - 'history of all hitherto existing socities is (cf. Marx & Engels - 'history of all hitherto existing socities is the history of class struggle')the history of class struggle')

Focus was on the 'recovery' of rationality and intentionality of Focus was on the 'recovery' of rationality and intentionality of human behaviourhuman behaviour

Close parallels with behavioural geographyClose parallels with behavioural geography

Leading exponent in Leading exponent in geography = Guelkegeography = Guelke

PhenomenologyPhenomenology

Humanistic geographers used term as outlined by the Humanistic geographers used term as outlined by the German philosopher Edmund Husserl German philosopher Edmund Husserl

Argued against the use of scientific methods to Argued against the use of scientific methods to study of culture and societystudy of culture and society

Argued for the 'Argued for the 'bracketing oubracketing out' of preconceptionst' of preconceptions

Saw all objects as having an 'Saw all objects as having an 'essenceessence' formed by ' formed by how people relate to these objecthow people relate to these object

Recovery of 'essences' achieved by 'bracketing out' Recovery of 'essences' achieved by 'bracketing out' pre-conceptionspre-conceptions


Geographers such as Tuan, Relph and Pickles Geographers such as Tuan, Relph and Pickles suggested that scientific approaches obscure the 'true suggested that scientific approaches obscure the 'true meanings' of geographymeanings' of geography

'sense of wonder about the earth and its places' (Relph, 1985, 'sense of wonder about the earth and its places' (Relph, 1985, p. 16).p. 16).

Academic geographers should reconnect their studies Academic geographers should reconnect their studies to their original sense of geographyto their original sense of geography

One route to do this is for geographers to explore peoples' sense of place


E.g. Yi-Fu Tuan on 'E.g. Yi-Fu Tuan on 'Topophilia' andTopophilia' and ' 'Topophobia'Topophobia'

Rational summarised in his article entitled 'Humanistic Rational summarised in his article entitled 'Humanistic geography':geography': 'Humanistic geography has as one of its tasks, the study of geographical knowledge ... Broadly conceived, knowledge of geography is necessary to biological survival. All animals must have it ... Knowledge of geography in this sense is a animal instinct ... In contrast, the geographical lore promoted within the culture of academic departments is highly conscious and specialised. Between these extremes lies a broad range of ideas regarding space, location, place and resource. ... Although we may know much about the specialised geographical knowledge of academic geographers we fail to place it in the total spectrum of geographical awareness. This spectrum extends from the 'mental maps' of migrating birds to our own 'mental maps' as we drive in a state of trance, from implicit knowing to explicit knowledge ..., from simple ideas on the structure of space to the intricately spatial hierarchies (Tuan, 1976, p. 268)


E.g. Yi-Fu Tuan on 'E.g. Yi-Fu Tuan on 'Topophilia' andTopophilia' and ' 'TopophobiaTopophobia''















Series of studies of relations to placeSeries of studies of relations to place• Tuan – topophobia and topophiliaTuan – topophobia and topophilia

• Relph – senses of dwellingRelph – senses of dwelling

Other geographical objectsOther geographical objects• Space (Seamon, 1979, 1980, Tuan 1974)Space (Seamon, 1979, 1980, Tuan 1974)

• Nature (Tuan, 1971)Nature (Tuan, 1971)

Often seen to focus on the individual, but …Often seen to focus on the individual, but …

"tease out the 'transcendental' (universal, timeless, "tease out the 'transcendental' (universal, timeless, placeless) essences supposedly embodied in how placeless) essences supposedly embodied in how all people experience space, place and all people experience space, place and environment". (Cloke environment". (Cloke et alet al, 1991, p. 81), 1991, p. 81)

ExistentialismExistentialism Defined broadly as concerned with "the experiences Defined broadly as concerned with "the experiences

people gain in the world'people gain in the world'

Less romantic view of people's relationship with placeLess romantic view of people's relationship with place

Phenomenological view: feelings of 'dwelling', 'belonging' and Phenomenological view: feelings of 'dwelling', 'belonging' and 'insiderness' are 'authentic' human sense of place (Relph, 1976)'insiderness' are 'authentic' human sense of place (Relph, 1976)

Existential view: "the sine qua non of human existence is objectivity (i.e., Existential view: "the sine qua non of human existence is objectivity (i.e., detachment or estrangement), which is nothing other than the act of detachment or estrangement), which is nothing other than the act of making things (the world) distant from one-self ... [A]ll men are making things (the world) distant from one-self ... [A]ll men are conditioned by distance and are - by definition - alienated ... All men, conditioned by distance and are - by definition - alienated ... All men, insofar as they are human ... are ontologically alienated. The differences insofar as they are human ... are ontologically alienated. The differences among men (culturally and historically), in this regard, are a function of among men (culturally and historically), in this regard, are a function of their success in overcoming, reinforcing or revolting against their their success in overcoming, reinforcing or revolting against their alienation" (Samuels 1978, pp. 26-27)alienation" (Samuels 1978, pp. 26-27)

ExistentialismExistentialism

Defined broadly as concerned with "the experiences Defined broadly as concerned with "the experiences people gain in the world'people gain in the world'

Less romantic view of people's relationship with placeLess romantic view of people's relationship with place

Sceptical about possibility and desirability of Sceptical about possibility and desirability of 'bracketing out presuppositions'bracketing out presuppositions

Moved away from notion that there were universal Moved away from notion that there were universal geographical objects of as 'place' and space'geographical objects of as 'place' and space'"concern for the more 'everyday geographies' of the places in which we live and labour: for the houses, streets, factories, offices, schools, fields, parks, cinemas and so on where we spend most of our day, and about which we unavoidable develop a sense of place – a rudimentary understanding of how this place 'works' and a nagging feeling towards this place of liking, disliking, loving, hating, aceepting or rejecting" (Cloke et al, 1991, p. 81)

Next stepsNext steps

Lectures have provided you with starting Lectures have provided you with starting pointspoints

You will explore the approaches further in You will explore the approaches further in seminars and in coursework essaysseminars and in coursework essays

Group Power Point PresentationsGroup Power Point Presentations

Introduction to PowerPoint – 1.30-2.30 Bennett LG5Introduction to PowerPoint – 1.30-2.30 Bennett LG5

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Early Approaches: Humanistic Geography What is humanistic geography ? What is humanistic geography ?...

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