The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard

Author:Gaston Bachelard
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA
Published: 2014-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

II

A phenomenologist who wants to experience the images of the function of inhabiting must not be subject to the charms of external beauty. For generally, beauty exteriorizes and disturbs intimate meditation. Nor can a phenomenologist follow for long the conchologist, whose duty it is to classify the immense variety of shells, and who is looking for diversity. However, a phenomenologist could learn a lot from a conchologist, if the latter were to share with him his own original amazement.

For here too, as with nests, enduring interest should begin with the original amazement of a naïve observer. Is it possible for a creature to remain alive inside stone, inside this piece of stone? Amazement of this kind is rarely felt twice. Life quickly wears it down. And besides, for one “living” shell, how many dead ones there are! For one inhabited shell, how many are empty!

But an empty shell, like an empty nest, invites daydreams of refuge. No doubt we over-refine our daydreams when we follow such simple images as these. But it is my belief that a phenomenologist should go in the direction of maximum simplicity. And therefore I believe that it is worthwhile proposing a phenomenology of the inhabited shell.

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