Toward a contemporary epistemology of the landscape: an essay on five theoretical propositions

Abstract

This article examines texts compiled in the book “Cinq propositions pour une théorie du paysage,” originally published in French in 1994. It discusses the arguments put forward by the authors of that book to systematize some principles of landscape study as well as connect ideas by either recognizing common concepts or identifying particularities in the texts. Our intention is to provide a comprehensive overview of these texts, rather than a critical review of each of the five individual texts. The texts refer to different disciplines, ranging from history and geography to anthropology and sociology, as well as the arts, literature, linguistics, and philosophy. As a whole, they embody a significant theoretical corpus toward the contemporary epistemology of landscape.