"Doing with space": towards a pragmatics of space

• Published in: Social geography 2010, Vol.5 (1), p.11-19
• Main Authors: Lussault, M., Stock, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humanities and Social Sciences
• ISSN: 1729-4312; 1729-4274; 1729-4312
• DOI: 10.5194/sg-5-11-2010

This article intends to explore the conditions of possibility of a pragmatics of space. How are practices constructed through space? How are the different ways of practising places are informed by different aspects of spatial dimensions? In order to get into this question, three points are developed. Firstly we will delimit the field of what is termed here "pragmatics" as larger than "pragmatism", with reference to recent developments within French sociology. Secondly we will propose a shift from geographies of "being in space" towards geographies of "doing with space". Thirdly we propose two expressions and concepts for a pragmatics of space: the notions of "doing with space" and space "at proof" are explored in order to be used as tools for investigation. Finally, we will explicit the analytical tools developed of practice within situations will be developed. Especially, the treatment of a situation as arrangements of multiples relationships of humans, necessitating a multiple-layered approach, from the recollection of discourse, objects and observation is developed.