Thinking Space (PDF)

Social and cultural theory has recently taken a spatial turn - using geographical concepts and mataphors to think about the currently complex and differentiated world. Thinking Space looks at a range of social theorists and asks what role space plays in their work, what difference (if any) it makes to their concepts, and what difference such an appreciation makes to the way we might think about space. It thus looks to a two way exchange between the appropriation of geographical ideas and the work that those spatial sensitivities perform in various theories.
Contributions from a range of geographical writers each take the work of one thinker, ranging from early this century to contemporary writers and from a wide range of disciplines. They draw out how they use spatial ideas, what role these ideas play in their thinking and what this may mean for how we think, not only about theory, but also about space itself. This is done by introducing the work of the key thinkers, then taking the ideas forward and examining their potential and pitfalls. Each of the chapters takes on one approach and sees where it will go, following the implications of works for both thinking theory through a spatial lens and thinking about space.
Few other books have addressed this range of thinkers, have focused on the role space plays in their thought or what the implications are for thinking about space. For this reason, it will be of use to those looking to learn about the 'spatial turn' in theory and for those looking to see what difference space makes.