Geiselhart K (2014)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Publisher: Association Espaces Temps.net
URI: http://www.espacestemps.net/articles/thinking-dimensionally-in-social-sciences/
This article carries the constructivist idea to its logical conclusion. If space is always perceived in three dimensions and does not have a substance, why not consider social topics in the the same way and see whether this produces informative and new insights ? The notion of Euclidean space as a dimensional system of ordering is an elementary concept in social sciences. This article gives two examples of how this concept could be employed in a non-positivistic and non-essentialist way with regard to social topics. Euclidean space is thereby not only seen as the metric space of mathematics but is also founded in the human cognition of space. The strength of this concept is that it reflects a basic experience and is thus very tangible and comprehensible. It is largely internalised by every individual and can thus evoke conclusive explanations when deliberately used. The first empirical example assesses day-to-day practices of consumption and is a critique of consumer style research. The second is an example about HIV-related stigma and discrimination ; it explains how the suggested perspective can be helpful in analysing social segregation and categorisation of marginalised people. The article introduces dimensional thinking as one way to capture geographical imaginations. Looking at attitudes of individuals rather than their attributes opens a perspective to mobility and flexibility in social space.
APA:
Geiselhart, K. (2014). Thinking Dimensionally in Social Sciences. An unconventional notion of social space for research on social topics. EspacesTemps.net.
MLA:
Geiselhart, Klaus. "Thinking Dimensionally in Social Sciences. An unconventional notion of social space for research on social topics." EspacesTemps.net (2014).
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