Philosophy of geography Seminar

Abstract:

This paper explores the strange relationship geography has with ‘the classics’. Geographers are often fond of pointing out that the discipline derives from the Greek words for ‘earth’ and ‘description’ (geo, graphe), but rarely pursue things any further. Drawing upon a recently drafted monograph, I consider how a re-engagement with ancient thought and the discipline of classics might pose interesting questions for research in the history and philosophy of geography, such as: (i) what sorts of histories and contexts are prioritised in the history of geographical thought?; (ii) what role(s) did antiquity play in 19th century geographical imaginations of empire, and still play in the discourses of Eurocentrism?; (iii) how might the elemental and spiritual conceptions of earth in Greek thought find resonance with contemporary ambitions to think ‘earth’ or ‘Gaia’ outside of modernist perspectives? The paper will talk through these questions and explore some of the opportunities for inter-disciplinary dialogue between geography, philosophy, and classics.

Speaker Information

Dr Pepe Romanillos | University of Exeter

Bio: Dr Pepe Romanillos graduated from the University of Bristol in 2004, gaining a BSc in Geography. This was followed by postgraduate study at Bristol where he completed the MSc in Society and Space and my doctoral research. Dr Romanillos first joined the School of Geography at Exeter in October 2008 as an Associate Teaching Fellow. He has since worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, and as a Lecturer at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. He returned to Exeter in August 2011 to take up a lectureship in Human Geography.

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