Common Sense Geography (Topoi C-5)

This research group focused on the subject of “common sense geography”. This term, which was coined by the members of the group, represents an attempt to link three subject areas together.

Common sense geography refered firstly to that part of historical geography which deals with knowledge in bygone cultures, and especially with the sphere of knowledge that is available in implicit form (implicit knowledge). Secondly, common sense geography addressed “lower” geography, in contrast to “higher” or “professional” geography, and thus it explored how geographical information is disseminated and applied outside of academic discourse. Lastly, common sense geography investigated “naïve” perceptions of space and, in attempting to describe these perceptions adequately, developed mental models (cognitive maps or frames or scripts) of ancient spatial orientation(s).